New Surveillance Cameras Installed At Scene Of Oakland Double Homicide

OAKLAND (CBS SF) -- An exclusive KPIX 5 report is leading to major changes in Oakland.

Surveillance cameras installed at Cesar Chavez Park haven't been working for years. Those cameras could have solved several crimes.

It took a recent double homicide in the park to prompt the city to finally take action and install new surveillance cameras that work.

The city took action after our reporting.

"It finally got done and sadly enough it took four lives to get us there," said Oakland City Councilman Noel Gallo said.

Tianna Cerrato's husband, a father of four, and his friend were both killed execution-style in East Oakland's Cesar Chavez Park just a few weeks ago.

"I'm sad - I'm mad we're not going to find justice," Tianna Cerrato said.

It was discovered after the killings that all the cameras in the park didn't work. The system was damaged by rain water.

Since our story first aired the city bought $3000 worth of equipment to replace the surveillance system.

The cameras are connected and the system works.

"It's long overdue -- two to three years -- waiting for them to work," Gallo said.

Kenneth Vigil, the father of one of the men killed at the park, watched the cameras in action. He said if only they had worked before his son Augustine was murdered.

Kenneth Vigil said he heard gunshots just last night.

Gallo vows to make sure all of the city cameras are working.

"We're going to try to...replicate this experience in every park in the city of Oakland," Gallo said.

Gloria has lived next to the park for 25 years and said it will be nice to hear the voices of children playing in a safe park again.

She said it will give her piece of mind.

"Absolutely. I think it will take the fear out of the moms because they're the ones that bring out their children."