Update, March 31: Councilwoman Linda Maio’s office has organized a meeting Saturday, April 2, at the Berkeley Adult School to discuss the violence: “The third shooting in just a few years at San Pablo and Delaware is a third too many. It is time for more concerted action.” See the meeting flier.
Original story, March 15: Berkeley police have responded to a shooting on Delaware Street and San Pablo Avenue with one confirmed victim, authorities report.
Around 11:30 a.m., police got numerous calls about shots fired in that location, said Sgt. Andrew Frankel, Berkeley Police spokesman.
Scroll down for live updates.
First responders found one man injured at the scene. His condition was unknown as of publication time.
The shooter was last seen westbound on Delaware.
Last month, three teenagers were injured in a shooting in Berkeley on Parker Street between San Pablo Avenue and Matthews Street.
Berkeley has seen two fatal shootings in the area near Tuesday’s incident: Zontee Jones in February 2013, and Dustin Bynum in August of that year.
Update, 2 p.m. According to local resident Francesca Rivera, police blocked off Delaware and Curtis streets. Police also blocked off San Pablo Avenue from Hearst Avenue three blocks north to Virginia Street, and Delaware over to Ninth Street. Helicopters have been reported by many Berkeleyside readers in the area.
Update, 2:44 p.m. Police have sent out a Nixle alert asking community members near Tuesday’s shooting to “shelter in place” and call police if they see anything suspicious. Dial 911 in an emergency, or 510-981-5900 in other situations.
Officers are in the area bounded by Tenth, Delaware, Ninth, and Hearst “searching for a suspect who is wanted in connection to a shooting that occurred earlier” at San Pablo and Delaware.
Update, 2:57 p.m. Rivera reports that police have opened up San Pablo Avenue — which was back to normal traffic as of about 2:55 p.m. — “but still have foot traffic limited” on Delaware, 10th and Hearst: “the fire trucks just left but lots of police on foot just waiting on Delaware Street.”
Update, 4:25 p.m. Officer Byron White, a Berkeley Police spokesman, said around 4 p.m. that police had taken one person into custody earlier in the afternoon after he crossed the police line, which had been marked off with yellow tape.
“He came into our protected area after he was asked to stop, and refused to identify himself,” White said, adding that the individual would most likely be released with a ticket because it was a misdemeanor offense.
The Special Response Team remains in the 1800 block of 10th Street where authorities believe the person responsible for Tuesday’s shooting may be located.
A 28-year-old man is in critical condition at a local hospital after the shooting.
No weapon has been recovered, and police have an armored vehicle on the scene for safety reasons because the man is believed to be armed. A nearby agency lent the vehicle to Berkeley during Tuesday’s operation.
Police continue to ask residents in the area to stay inside for safety reasons, and to call police if they see anything suspicious.
Police have not released a description because that could jeopardize the integrity of the investigation, White said.
Update, 8:14 p.m. Police released a new Nixle alert just after 8 p.m. to say officers are winding down activities at 10th and Delaware and “lifting the ‘shelter in place’” direction put forward earlier.
“Although the suspect has not been apprehended, officers will continue to be in the area to continue the investigation,” police said. See the original Nixle alert.
Update, 10:55 p.m. Officer Byron White said police were on the scene for so many hours Tuesday because detectives were seeking a search warrant for a particular address. Once they got the warrant, police were able to determine that the man was not there. Detectives continue to look into the case actively.
White also thanked the community for its support during the prolonged operation throughout the day: “People were there to provide us with information, and then also the level of patience,” he said.
Update, March 16, 5:15 p.m. Police have announced an arrest in the case but have not released the name, age or gender of the person who was arrested. According to a Nixle alert that just went out, someone went into the Berkeley Police Department on Wednesday just before 12:45 p.m. and surrendered.
“We are withholding the suspect’s name at this time pending ongoing investigative efforts,” authorities said. The victim remains in critical condition at Highland Hospital.
Police ask anyone with information about the case to call the Berkeley Police Department at 510-981-5900.
Update, 5:54 p.m. Police have confirmed that the person arrested is an adult male.
Update, 6:10 p.m. The man has been identified as 40-year-old Ali Griffin, a copy consultant, according to Alameda County sheriff’s department records online. He is scheduled for arraignment Friday at 9 a.m. in Department 112 at the Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse in Oakland. Griffin is being held without bail on a Ramey warrant on suspicion of attempted homicide.
Berkeleyside will update this post if additional information becomes available.
Related:
Breaking: Gunfire in South Berkeley, fire on University (03.06.16)
Berkeleyside blotter: Crime in Berkeley, Feb. 11-17 (03.01.16)
3 Berkeley teens injured, 2 seriously, in shooting (02.16.16)
Gun violence makes for busy weekend for Berkeley police (01.11.16)
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