Robber Targeting Oakland Home Marijuana Grow Shot Dead By Caretaker
OAKLAND (KCBS) - The attempted robbery of a downtown Oakland home containing a legal marijuana grow operation resulted in one robber being shot dead by the home's caretaker, according to police.
Two of the caretaker's dogs were shot and killed during the incident as well, while two other robbers escaped before officers arrived, police said.
At around 4:40 a.m. police responded to reports of shots fired in a white, 2-story building on 7th and Webster streets, the block between the entrance to the Webster Tube and the exit of the Posey Tunnel.
KCBS' Holly Quan Reports:
Upon entering the building to investigate, police found what appeared to be a legal medical marijuana grow operation, with an estimated 100 plants in various stages of growth inside. Police said it was hardly the biggest operation they'd seen, though adding that there still was "a significant" amount of marijuana inside.
It was initially unclear whether authorities planned to confiscate the marijuana because it was considered a legal grow house under California law. Authorities said it was clear that the robbers were after the marijuana.
Officers also recovered a weapon at the scene, police spokeswoman Officer Johanna Watson said.
The person who was living at that address was taken to nearby Oakland police headquarters and was meeting with investigators.
The resident provided paperwork on the marijuana-growing operation, but police were attempting to verify the documents, Watson said.
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