Man Shot and Killed by Oakland Police

By Kelly Balamuth on June 11, 2015

A 30-year-old man was shot and killed by Oakland police Saturday, June 6th near Lake Merritt in Oakland. He was unresponsive in a stolen gray 2005 BMW stopped several feet away from the stoplight at Lakeshore and Lake Park avenues with a loaded handgun nearby. Officials said that they attempted to wake the man up for over an hour with nonviolent efforts that included using a bullhorn and unsuccessfully trying to break the car windows using bean bag rounds.

When the man woke up and responded to police officers a confrontation ensued, leading one officer to deploy his taser and another officer to discharge their firearm, shooting him. The man was taken to Highland Hospital where he was pronounced dead. He leaves behind three children. The 12 officers who were on the scene are all being questioned and footage is being reviewed from their body cameras. This is Oakland’s first fatal officer-involved shooting in more than two years, and comes on the heels of protests around the country concerning excessive force used by police officers.

The deceased man’s family has questions that still need to be answered, including why the police officer found it necessary to shoot him.

In California, a wrongful death claim is one where the most immediate family members of a decedent file a lawsuit claiming the decedent’s death was someone’s fault. A wrongful death suit is different from other types of personal injury claims because the person bringing the claim is not the actual victim, but the person (or people) left behind. A wrongful death may be the result of any number of factors, including recklessness or negligence by another person or party.

At Balamuth Law, we respect our clients and do our best to maximize their recovery and remain as sensitive as possible to our client’s needs while still providing aggressive representation. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.