Update, 11:40 p.m. Berkeley police and fire personnel left the scene at around 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 20, after concluding that no one was barricaded in a residence, contrary to earlier reports. Berkeley Police Lt. Randy Files told Berkeleyside that police originally received calls about “loud reports” that could have been gunfire, and that authorities believed somebody might have been “holed up” in a home in the 1600 block of Addison Street. This “proved not to be the case,” he said. Files would not elaborate on how police determined that the report was unsubstantiated. At 11:35 p.m. neighborhood streets were being re-opened after being closed off to all traffic.
11:10 p.m. Reporting from the scene, Emilie Raguso said the Berkeley Fire Department was also in the area and that traffic was being diverted, as several roads had been closed by police. McGee was blocked in all four directions at Addison, and southbound from University.
Just five days ago, on Feb. 15, numerous police officers, including members of the SWAT team and canine unit, conducted a similar operation on the Berkeley-Oakland border when they believed somebody was barricaded in a building on Shattuck Ave. Police allegedly “stormed the building” where the suspect or suspects were believed to be barricaded, but no one was inside.
11:05 p.m. One reader has reported via Twitter that California was blocked from University to Addison and “at least three cars” are at Addison and California. Another wrote: “Squad cars on all access points, but no activity. Sounds like they’re just going to be waiting him out.”
Original story, 10:30 p.m. Police have responded to a home near Jefferson Avenue and Addison Street in Berkeley following a report of shots fired on Wednesday night.
According to unconfirmed reports from a resident in the area, four shots were fired near the intersection at about 9:40 p.m.
“Police are all over the place and asking nearby residents to remain indoors,” the resident told Berkeleyside via email.
The Berkeley Police Department watch commander has not responded to a request for information, but police did confirm “activity” in the area, and said the watch commander was on scene.
According to the Oakland Tribune, police have surrounded a home in the area where a man who fired shots is believed to have barricaded himself inside. No one was injured, but police were said to be attempting to negotiate with the man.
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Editor Tracey Taylor contributed to the production of this story.
