Update: Woman in critical condition after shooting at Oakland's Lake Merritt
A shooting at Lake Merritt in Oakland Monday afternoon left an innocent bystander critically injured, police said.
The shooting was reported just before 12:30 p.m. along Lakeside Dr. where it meets Madison Street
Dispatchers received multiple calls about the shooting, police said. When officers arrived they found a woman who had been shot at least once.
Oakland Fire and an ambulance crew provided medical aid and the woman was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Police spokesperson Kim Armstead said the woman wasn't targeted by the shooter and was an "innocent bystander."
A resident of the area said he heard what sounded like firecrackers and he came outside of his home and saw the scene unfolding.
"I came out and I saw a vehicle leaving in the opposite direction on a one-way street. I don't know if that was the suspect vehicle or somebody just trying to get away," said resident Everett Alexander. "And then I saw a woman down on the ground and a bunch of people going to her aid and assistance."
Alexander said he heard at least a dozen gunshots. A resident since 2010, Alexander said it was the first time he has experienced this type of gunfire in his neighborhood, calling it "a fluke."
"People responded to this woman's aid quickly, you know? said Alexander. "That was amazing because you didn't know what was going on, but they actually ran to her assistance not knowing whether or not the danger was over. Now that says a lot about our community."
People with information about the shooting were asked to contact the department's Felony Assault Unit at (510) 238-3426.
