Three people were hurt and one person was arrested in a shooting Thursday evening at Skyline High School in Oakland during the school's graduation ceremony, police said.
One arrest was made Friday, police said, and investigators are looking for additional shooters.
Emergency crews were called at about 7:40 p.m. to the school, where two adults were wounded by gunfire in a parking lot, said Oakland Fire Department spokesman Michael Hunt.
According to Oakland police, the victims were a man and a woman. They were taken to a local hospital in stable condition. Another person was reportedly hit by gunfire and showed up at a hospital by their own means, but police didn't respond to a request for information about a third injury in the shooting.
Oakland police said later on social media that two people had been detained.
Police said they were investigating a report of a dispute, but they didn't provide more details. They also believe multiple suspects may have been involved with the shooting.
Witnesses told NBC Bay Area Thursday night that there was a white car with a window down driving around the parking lot and firing several shots toward the graduation ceremony and the crowds.
One man told NBC Bay Area that his family scrambled for safety and so did everyone else. People were running in all directions.
Get a weekly recap of the latest San Francisco Bay Area housing news. Sign up for NBC Bay Area’s Housing Deconstructed newsletter.
“Everything got chaotic and everyone was running,” said Yousef Sulaiman, who witnessed the incident.
The California Highway Patrol assisted Oakland police with the investigation. The school also went on lockdown as a result of the incident.
Anyone who attended the graduation and has video or photos of the incident is asked to email them to cidvideos@oaklandca.gov. Anyone with information is asked to contact the OPD Felony Assault Unit at 510-238-3426.
Oakland Unified School District Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell released the following statement Friday in response to the shooting:
"Across our City and District, graduation season is one of the most exciting and celebratory times of the year, as our students, families, and staff come together to honor the remarkable accomplishments of our graduating seniors. Each one is a joyous occasion that graduates and many others remember for a lifetime. This is especially true for the graduating class of 2024, who missed their middle school promotions and experienced their first year of high school online in distance learning due to the pandemic.
"What happened after Skyline High School’s graduation on Thursday evening was heartbreaking and absolutely unacceptable. The incident happened after the ceremony had concluded, and after many students, families, and staff had left the campus. Some people remained on the field wrapping up the celebration and some staff members were cleaning up, when the shooting happened. I want to appreciate the staff from Skyline and the District who were on site at the time and immediately responded to take control of this challenging situation until police could arrive.
"We don’t know what prompted this violent incident, but we know this: Our schools are among the safest places to be in the City, and there is never any place for violence within, or around them. As a community, we must not tolerate violence, and instead work together to eliminate it in Oakland. I know that many of us share this collective frustration and devastation, and that our hearts are with the victims of this incident, their loved ones, and every graduate and their extended community who attended the ceremony to celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime achievement.
"Our behavioral health staff is at Skyline High today and will continue to provide support to students, staff, and families in the days to come. We have also instituted additional safety and security measures for our remaining graduation ceremonies."
Bay City News contributed to the report.
