Oakland police on Saturday arrested a man suspected of fatally shooting an 18-year-old Oakland Technical High senior after the popular First Friday event, and wounding three others the night before.
Spokeswoman Johnna Watson said the man was arrested in connection with the homicide of Kiante Campbell, 18, just before 11 p.m. in the 2000 block of Telegraph Avenue. Three others were taken to the hospital but they are expected to live.
The suspect has not been formally charged by the Alameda County District Attorney and police did not immediately identify him.
Mayor Jean Quan said in a written statement that she was "deeply saddened" by the shooting and that the city was "taking immediate action to assess the security and overall nature of the event."
Campbell and the others had attended the popular festival that occurs on the first Friday of every month in Oakland's downtown and Uptown neighborhoods, which attracts thousands of people; mostly young, hip, artsy urbanites. The event is an offshoot of Art Murmur, a gallery walk, which usually attracts a high-end crowd.
"Prior to this unfortunate incident, more than 10,000 people enjoyed what by all accounts was a peaceful and chill event, which included several music stages, interactive art, a kids’ zone, fenced beer garden, and more," according to the Oakland First Fridays blog. "Ironically, the shooting happened just one block from a youth stage run by a local non-profit organization which works with at-risk youth."
The Oakland Tribune reported that Campbell had first arrived at the event with friends around 9 p.m., and like many festival goers, lingered in the Uptown neighborhood after the event officially came to an end at 10 p.m.
The shooting happened about 10:50 p.m. after a scuffle of some sort erupted in the parking lot of a beauty supply business on Telegraph Avenue between 20th and 21st streets, according to police.
Also shot was Campbell's friend, a 17-year-old Oakland boy, and two women who were not part of the confrontation and were hit by stray bullets: a 24-year-old Oakland woman and a 29-year-old San Francisco woman. The teen and the three women were expected to recover.
The First Friday blog refers to an anonymous family friend who said Campbell "was on track to graduate from Oakland Technical High school and had hopes of attending UC Berkeley. His dream was to make his mother proud by attending college. He was passionate about music production and about volunteering with various community organizations, which allowed him to work with youth."
The group said its organization will continue to honor his memory, and set up a youth stage named in his memory at future First Friday events.
Police said the motive for the shooting is unclear at this time. This investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the investigators at (510) 238-3821.
