15-month-old baby shot while riding in car in Oakland
15-month-old child shot while riding in car in Oakland, taken to fire station for help
A baby was brought to a fire station in Oakland, with at least one gunshot wound. Firefighters say the 15-month-old girl was shot in the abdomen. Family members banged on the doors of Fire Station 4 to get help. Firefighters rendered aid on the sidewalk until paramedics arrived.
OAKLAND, Calif. - A 15-month-old girl was shot in the abdomen as she rode in a car through Oakland on Monday, officials said.
The baby was brought to a fire station in Oakland, with at least one gunshot wound. Family members banged on the doors of Fire Station 4 to get help and firefighters rendered aid on the sidewalk until paramedics arrived. The baby was transported to UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, where she immediately received surgery and is listed in stable condition, Oakland police officials said during a press conference on Tuesday.
The shooting happened near 12th Avenue and East 15th Street in Oakland’s Clinton neighborhood.
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Witnesses who live on that block, said they saw a red vehicle at a stop sign. Then they heard gunfire, heard tires screeching, and saw the red Honda Civic speed down the street and go around the corner. The driver parked outside Fire Station 4. A man and woman got out of the car carrying a baby girl, who was bleeding. Bullet holes were seen in the doors of the car.
Surveillance video shows the child being carried by adults, taken to the fire station.
"I see like one girl and a man they are knocking on the door for the fire department and then people are coming from the fire department to help," said Marwan Farhan, who works at Saba Gift Market across the street. "I feel very bad seeing that. It’s dangerous in Oakland because we get a lot of problems in this area."
The Oakland Police Department said it has video footage that shows a Black male at the intersection of 12th Avenue and East 15th Avenue firing at an unknown vehicle that was traveling eastbound.
"We believe that the victims were not the intended target, but were caught in a crossfire and a stray bullet struck the child," said Lt. Seth Neri, a section commander for OPD's felony, assault and robbery section. "Being a father myself I can only imagine what the family is going through."
Police said officers responded to the shooting due to ShotSpotter technology. Oakland has faced a number of recent shootings over the past week, all seemingly unconnected and random, officials said.
"The challenging component of this is that there is no rhyme or reason for a lot of the cases," said Roland Holmgren, OPD's acting chief for the bureau of investigations. "The common denominator here is the saturation of firearms in our city streets, and the willingness of people to settle differences and pull a trigger and not care where that bullet goes."
SEE ALSO: 1 killed, another injured in shooting at Oakland apartment complex
Roland said that 350 firearms have been recovered so far this year, which is much higher than years past.
"Every single day our officers are going out there and recovery firearms like it's nothing," Roland said, adding that OPD may consider seeking federal charges in some case where it seems fit.
"The only way that we are going to break this cycle is if we have consequences for harming our community and then doing something to remove the firearms from the streets," he said.
No arrests or suspect information have been announced.
Police are urging anyone with information or video footage from the area to come forward or call the Oakland Police Department at 510-238-3426.