High School Senior Killed In East Oakland Shootout
OAKLAND (CBS 5) -- A 17-year-old East Oakland high school senior was gunned down in a shootout that took place just blocks from his home and the school, police and school officials said.
Witness told police that two teenagers were shooting at each other near 80th and Bancroft avenues about 2:30 p.m.
Police said they arrived to find Ditiyan Franklin Jr. lying unconscious in the street suffering from at least one gunshot wound; he was taken to Highland Hospital but was pronounced dead shortly afterward.
KCBS' Bob Melrose Reports:
It was not immediately clear if Franklin was involved in the shootout or caught in the crossfire, said Oakland police Officer Jeff Thomason.
He indicated that a large crowd - perhaps as many as 50 people - had gathered at the shooting scene, but said that most people wouldn't give statements to police.
"There were a lot of people here on the scene, but we have little leads right now, not too many people came forward," Thomason told CBS 5.
With no suspects identified and no motive, police hoped someone in the crowd would be able to provide investigators with information about a gunman, or gunmen, and what sparked the shooting.
"So, we need the public's help in this," Thomason said. "Whenever you have a homicide, especially a young person in the community, we need the community to come forward to give us information."
Franklin was scheduled to graduate in a few weeks from the nearby Castlewood Leadership Preparatory High School, according to Oakland Unified School District spokesman Troy Flint.
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