Oakland shootout leaves 8 injured

OAKLAND, Calif. - A hail of gunfire along an Oakland street has left eight people wounded, including a 1-year-old boy who authorities say was taken to the city's Children's Hospital in critical condition.

The gunfire broke out Monday evening in a liquor store parking lot after a crowd had gathered, police said. The victims were transported to local hospitals by others at the scene before officers arrived to find dozens of bullet casings.

The 1-year-old's father, who also was shot, drove his son to the hospital, where surgeons were trying to relieve swelling on his brain, relatives told KTVU-TV.

"We are aware of a 1-year-old boy who was shot — possibly in the head — in critical condition right now," Oakland Police Lt. Robert Chan told the station. The hospital declined to release any details about the victim.

The shootings just after 6 p.m. happened near Interstate 880 in the city's West Oakland neighborhood, Oakland police spokeswoman Ofc. Johnna Watson said.

Watson said six of the victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Investigators were seeking multiple shooters, but further details on suspects or a motive were not immediately available.

Television footage showed a van belonging to an Oakland rapper that was riddled with bullet holes and had apparently taken some of the victims to the hospital.

The rapper, who goes by the name Kafani, posted to Twitter on Monday that he had not been shot but to pray for his little cousin. He said news reports that he had been shooting a music video when the shooting took place were incorrect.