The 2022 Berkeley gunfire map
As of May 17, two people had been killed and six had been wounded in shootings in Berkeley this year. There have been 20 confirmed shootings.
Crime & Safety
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Top Stories
Killer apologizes to mother of slain teen: ‘Before you know it, I shot Seth’
Tony Walker described himself as a “washed-up nobody” who probably deserved to die in prison.
Arsonist in People’s Park set tent on fire with man inside, police say
A man living in the park has been hospitalized after someone lit his tent on fire Tuesday morning and hit him multiple times with a golf club, police say.
Under threat from climate change, Berkeley’s family camps adapt to survive
As Berkeley Tuolumne Camp reopens, the city’s cherished rustic retreats are facing growing threats from wildfires and landslides.
A Berkeley man was convicted of killing a Cal student. He must now explain why
Until now, the motive for the fatal shooting has been shrouded in mystery. That is set to change Monday as part of a recent plea deal.
Berkeley police investigate gunfire, car crash on Alcatraz
One neighbor told Berkeleyside they were trying to nap when they “heard a series of gunshots and a crash followed by someone screaming.”
Policing
In 7-2 vote, Berkeley council approves broad package to reimagine policing
Thursday’s vote was a budget referral: The package will come back in June so officials can decide what will actually be funded in the coming years.
Officials say yes to ‘new vision of public safety’ — and more cops, too
“When we work together as a whole community we can make real progress,” Mayor Jesse Arreguín said Thursday.
Police union files state labor complaint, claiming missteps by new oversight board
It says unlawful changes were made to police misconduct investigations.
Police misconduct hearing put off after cop union said Berkeley broke the law
The city did not respond to multiple requests for comment from Berkeleyside.
Open patrol beats are the biggest driver of police officer overtime, audit finds
Security work for outside entities, such as UC Berkeley, the Apple store and other Fourth Street businesses, made up 10% of the overtime costs in FY20.
Who will run Berkeley’s new Police Accountability Board? Help choose.
An interim director has been helping the board get up to speed after its creation by the voters with Measure II in 2020.
Homicide
Police: Man shot friend, staged suicide scene to get away with murder
According to detectives, the killer’s grandmother watched him stage the crime scene and waited to call police so he could make his escape.
Police arrest Berkeley man, 20, after fatal shooting on Channing Way
A young woman in her 20s was also wounded in Tuesday night’s shooting, but she is expected to survive.
Berkeley police investigate homicide on Channing Way
It is Berkeley’s second fatal shooting of the year. Last year, there were no homicides in Berkeley.
Crime roundup: Carjacking at BART, shooting suspect charged, $50K reward offered in cold case murder
Berkeley native Tobias Eagle was just 30 years old when he was fatally shot in his backyard on Blake Street. Detectives are still trying to solve the case.
Shootings
Police: Woman arrested after firing gun, making threats at West Berkeley party
Berkeley police have now responded to at least 15 confirmed gunfire reports in 2022.
Berkeley police: Robber fires gun on Telegraph while taking driver’s necklace
The robber shot through the driver’s windshield and took his necklace when he resisted, according to police.
Update: Roads reopened after southwest Berkeley shooting; no injuries reported
The initial call came in at 1:44 p.m. and police said they didn’t receive any reports of injuries.
In brief
2 men shot during South Berkeley home-invasion robbery
Two residents of a home on 62nd Street in South Berkeley suffered injuries that were not believed to be life threatening.
Man, 19, shot in the leg in front of shoppers near Berkeley Bowl West
Police responded to reports of a man shot in the leg at 2:51 p.m. Saturday. The victim’s wound is not believed to be life-threatening.
Traffic safety
Police: Driver with loaded gun arrested after running stop sign near Malcolm X
The man dropped off a young child at Malcolm X Elementary just after running the stop sign, BPD said.
8 people died in Berkeley crashes in 2021, overall collisions were up 34%
It was the highest number of traffic deaths the city has seen since at least 1984, the Berkeley Police Department found.
Police arrest hit-and-run suspect found hiding in hotel room
A 58-year-old Berkeley man was charged with vehicular hit-and-run causing injury, driving without a license and parole violation.
DoorDash should stop texting its drivers while they’re moving, wrongful death lawsuit says
“If they don’t revise their practice of texting drivers while driving with unmounted cellphones,” said Mark Webb, “there will be more accidents.”
Path Wanderers co-founder on the mend after driver hit her in crosswalk
A driver struck 90-year-old Jacque Ensign as she walked on Marin Avenue near her North Berkeley home earlier this month.
Cyclist and pedestrian sent to hospital after separate car crashes on Marin
The crashes took place Thursday and Friday just one block apart.
Fatalities
BPD to review inebriated man’s death after release from police custody
The Police Accountability Board has indicated plans to launch its own independent investigation.
Update: Richmond man found dead on Ashby Avenue was killed by driver
Authorities have identified the man who died Nov. 17 as Angel Barrera of Richmond. He was killed by a hit-and-run driver.
Update: Man who died in marina crash ID’d as James Israel of San Anselmo
“We hope the coroner’s investigation and autopsy may reveal more,” police said Thursday.
Fires
Firefighters rescue 4 people after 2-alarm fire in historic Cal office building
Witnesses described smoke billowing from the building and people hanging out of windows on the second floor.
West Berkeley RV resident sustains minor injuries in fire
Jeffrey Edwards was able to escape mostly unscathed from the blaze.
Kidney donation saves life of Berkeley’s former fire chief
A failing kidney forced Gil Dong to leave the fire department in 2017. He and his donor, a longtime friend, hope more Asian Americans will consider organ donation.
Crime trends
Officials vow to increase police staffing, with available officers at historic low
The pledge came amid a lengthy discussion on the annual crime report, use-of-force and police stop data, traffic collision statistics and more.
Police should track mental health, homeless calls better, new audit says
The 80-page analysis — the first known assessment of its kind — was published Thursday by city auditor Jenny Wong.
‘Alarming’ crime uptick brings local leaders together for Zoom town hall
“We must employ a variety of tactics to deter, intervene and investigate crimes,” West Berkeley Councilmember Terry Taplin said during Wednesday’s Zoom.
Cyclists report armed robberies of bikes while riding in the East Bay hills
“Our community needs to be made aware,” said a cyclist who asked to remain anonymous because the investigation is underway.
Police investigate robbery series that started in mid-March
Berkeley Police Chief Jen Louis said detectives have “some very promising investigative leads” and that she’s put extra officers on patrol.
Sex crimes
Man gets 24-year sentence in armed Berkeley stranger rape series from 2008
The trail went cold for nearly a decade until police got the man’s fingerprints due to a minor traffic violation in 2016.
Police ask for help to find assailant from North Berkeley sex crime Thursday
A woman was walking on Colusa Avenue when a stranger approached her from behind, threatened to have a knife and then sexually assaulted her.
Reports of suspicious man at Berkeley school lead to arrest of BUSD custodian
Staff say the man has circled Sylvia Mendez Elementary at least 10 times since October. He was identified as a BUSD employee only after his arrest.
Police: Man charged with sex crimes after chasing young women in Berkeley
One of the women told police she had been terrified by the encounter. The other waved down a stranger driving by and got into their car to escape.
Assaults
Man charged with felony assault after northwest Berkeley stabbing
The victim, a 42-year-old man, was stabbed twice in the arm and taken to Highland Hospital.
Police: Man arrested after assaulting 80-year-old woman, trying to kick her dog
According to court records, Brett Walker was on probation at the time of his arrest due to a conviction for felony assault in December 2021.
Berkeley man charged with elder abuse, threatening parents while out on bail
Authorities say Yarman Smith, 33, grabbed a “butcher-style knife” and threatened to kill his parents and himself in late December.
Crime roundup: Crowbar attack, REI bike robbery, hate crime charges
Arrested or charged individuals are presumed innocent.
Disaster preparedness
Berkeley Marina boat dwellers evacuated due to tsunami advisory
The order came after an underwater volcano erupted near Tonga.
No, wildfire season in Berkeley isn’t necessarily over yet
This month’s rains helped tamper down fire danger, but experts say the East Bay is not out of the woods yet.
A lesson in how to escape wildfire by foot in the Berkeley Hills
The Berkeley Path Wanderers Association held an educational “Escape from the Hills” event to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Oakland-Berkeley Hills Firestorm.
Berkeley to Nixle users: Sign up now for AC Alert if you haven’t already
Berkeley will no longer funnel messages from AC Alert to Nixle to prevent redundant messages and confusion, the city announced.
Related stories
2 men arrested after carjacking of BHS Mountain Bike Team members
They have been charged with a carjacking in Daly City and are tied to carjackings in San Francisco, Oakland and Livermore, authorities say.
