Two suspects have been arrested after eight people were shot outside a downtown Oakland nightclub early Saturday morning, police said.
Police said that of those shot, two were male suspects, ages 21 and 28 respectively, who are now in custody. The six other people who suffered gunshot wounds comprised of four women and two men between 17 and 28 years old. Five of the victims are stable, while one remains in critical condition, police said.
Officers said they responded to reports of multiple shots fired on the 400 block of 14th street, less than a block away from City Hall, just after 12 a.m.
Some reports said a fight began inside the club — which video from the scene shows might be Club Vinyl at 420 14th Street — and escalated to a shooting. However, police have yet to confirm that information.
The owner of the club says that the establishment opened its doors to provide aid to two victims, but that those involved in the shooting were not in the club prior to shots being fired.
Those who work and live near the scene say they are concerned about the safety of the downtown area.
"I think something needs to happen, something needs to change," said businessowner Joyce Gordon.
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That uneasiness is prompting leaders such as city council president Lynette Gibson McElhaney to offer up some solutions.
"The council dedicated resources to establish a metro unit for the downtown specificially to deal with the entertainment bar and establishments," she said. "We need to make sure that is rightly resourced and that our officers are here, they're deterring violence."
Several people involved in Saturday's shooting were transported to area hospitals, and others transported themselves to hospitals, police said.
Police have not yet provided any information about a possible motive or identified the suspects.
The department's Felony Assault Section investigators are investigating the shooting.
