Parole agent fatally shot in Oakland, suspect detained
Procession honoring state parole agent shot and killed in the line of duty in Oakland
A solemn procession took place at Highland Hospital in Oakland to honor a fallen state parole agent on Thursday night after he was shot and killed inside an Oakland parole office. Members with law enforcement agencies including Oakland Police Department, Alameda County Sheriff's Office, the California Highway Patrol and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation were at the hospital for hours.
OAKLAND, Calif. - A suspect has been detained in connection to the fatal shooting of a parole agent Thursday afternoon in Oakland.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and Governor Gavin Newsom's office identified the parole agent who was killed as 40-year-old Joshua Lemont Byrd. Police identified the suspect now in custody as Bryan Keith Hall, 48.
The shooting occurred near the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation building at Edgwater Drive and Pardee Lane.
Suspect held in shooting death of state parole agent at Oakland office
A state parole agent was shot and killed at a parole office in East Oakland. A suspect was arrested hours later.
After leaving the scene near Edgewater Drive, the California Highway Patrol says officers later detained a male suspect near 90th Avenue and International Boulevard. The suspect was placed inside an ambulance. A witness described a chaotic scene of law enforcement officers rushing in.
The backstory:
The CHP said Oakland police first received a 9-1-1 call about the shooting around 12:48 p.m.
When Oakland police officers arrived, they learned a CDCR employee had been shot inside the building.
Aerial video from SkyFOX showed heavy police presence for several hours Thursday afternoon at the state building.
Multiple patrol cars and officers were also seen at nearby Highland Hospital in Oakland, about 6 miles from Edgewater Drive.
Parole agent fatally shot in Oakland, suspect detained
A suspect has been detained in connection to the fatal shooting of a parole agent Thursday afternoon in Oakland. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and Governor Gavin Newsom's office identified the parole agent who was killed as 40-year-old Joshua Lemont Byrd. Police identified the suspect now in custody as Bryan Keith Hall, 48.
Police have not provided details on the circumstances that led up to the shooting.
When officers from the Oakland Police Department arrived at the scene of the shooting, they found the victim and placed him directly inside a police vehicle for transport to the hospital rather than waiting for an ambulance.
After an hours-long manhunt, the suspect was taken into custody.
Remembering and honoring the agent
What they're saying:
CDCR said in a statement they were deeply saddened by the death of Agent Byrd, killed in the line of duty. They posted a Reel to their Facebook page where they talked about the tragic loss.
Gov. Newsom and acting Governor Eleni Kounalakis issued the following statement on the parole agent's death. "This is a heartbreaking loss. Agent Byrd served with integrity and courage — and we’re forever grateful. We are keeping his family in our prayers and we join the men and women of CDCR in mourning this tragedy."
Agent Byrd joined CDCR as a cadet at CDCR's correctional officer academy in June 2014, the governor's office said. He served as a correctional officer and correctional sergeant before joining the Division of Adult Parole Operations - Oakland office as a parole agent in Oct. 2024.
Byrd's wife and three children survive him.
To honor Agent Byrd, flags at the State Capitol and at other facilities will be flown at half-staff. The governor's office said this is the first line-of-duty loss for CDCR since 2018.
A large, but solemn, law enforcement procession for Agent Byrd was held tonight. It commenced from Highland Hospital to transport the agent's body to the Alameca County Coroner's Office.
A law-enforcement source said the agent's family was scheduled to arrive at the hospital Thursday evening. A caravan of vehicles arrived at the hospital and people could be seen hugging one another.
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee issued the following statement on the agent's death: "The City of Oakland is heartbroken at the loss of one of our fellow public servants and we stand by them and all of their colleagues at the state parole service."
The Investigation
The CHP is leading the investigation since the shooting occurred on state property, the agency said.
The yellow police tape surrounding the perimeter of this shooting has since been taken down.
The building where the shooting happened is used by the CDCR. Parolees just released from prison check in with parole agents here and are drug-tested. This office is their first stop after being released from custody. The suspect, Hall, was recently paroled from prison. He has a conviction for assault with a deadly weapon for stabbing a man in the neck on Lakeshore in a case handled by the OPD and the Alameda County District Attorney's Office.
What's next:
Evidence from this crime scene will be presented to the Alameda County District Attorney's Office.
Editor's Note: KTVU previously reported the suspect had allegedly carjacked an AC Transit bus, according to sources. This has been retracted and removed from the story.
Heavy police presence near east Oakland building
Video shows heavy police presence Thursday afternoon at a building on Edgwater Drive in east Oakland.
Police presence at Oakland's Highland Hospital
Police officers and patrol cars were at Highland Hospital in Oakland Thursday afternoon.