1 injured, 2 Berkeley men killed in Downtown Oakland shooting

OAKLAND, Calif. (BCN) - Police are investigating a double homicide that claimed two Berkeley men and injured another person in downtown Oakland early Sunday morning.

According to police, officers responded at 12:53 a.m. to the 300 block of 15th street on reports of several shots being fired. Police say patrol officers actually heard the gunfire. 

Police officials said officers arrived to where a birthday party was happening at an art gallery and found at least two people were dead from apparent gunshot wounds.

A third person had also been struck by gunfire and was taken to a hospital, however their condition was not immediately known.

Witnesses say a disagreement, possibly over a woman being disrespected, led to a fight inside the party. It spilled out onto the streets and one or two gunmen began firing. 

Terrence McCrary and Craig Fletcher were identified as the victims who were killed. No arrests have been reported in connection to this incident. 

"It was no point for any of this. It was just senseless violence, like out of a movie or something," said Barkay Milon, a friend of the victim. 

The triple shooting happened just around the corner from where 16-year-old Regginae Jeffries was shot and killed at 14th and Franklin streets in June. 

The violence comes as the city has reinvigorated downtown. Uber is opening an office here next year in the old Sears building. 

"Everything that we represent down here is real Oakland. All this other stuff that's going on is not what we're about," said Kailen Robinson, a friend of the victim. 

"So there are two downtowns. It's an incredible place to be and it's very vibrant and there's an incredible diversity of people down here all the time and yet, I guess...a lot of people together there can be an element that 's not so savory," said Luan Stauss an owner of Laurel Bookstore. 

"It should not deter us from having some investment in this city, emotionally and personally. Financially, we should invest in the people in this city," said Walter Riley, an attorney. 

"I think there is more that can be can be done. i think the city needs to redouble our efforts on crime prevention and intervention strategies, creating safe places for our young people to be," said Oakland City Council President Lynette Gibson McElhaney. 

City officials hope police patrols and crime prevention strategies will make downtown violence an aberration, not the norm.