Rash of Shootings Prompts A Community Call To Action

The four males who were injured in a spate of shootings that happened Monday afternoon within less than three hours of one another has the Oakland Police Department taking a closer look at gang activity in the East-Lake San Antonio neighborhood.

It is the same area where a 13-year-old boy was wounded by a gunman during a drive by shooting outside a St. Anthony's Church. The boy was attending a memorial service for Jose Luis Buenrostro-Gonzalez.

Father Jesus Nieto-Ruiz, Pastor of St. Anthony Catholic Church and community leaders convinced Oakland Police Cheif Wayne Tucker at a meeting last Wednesday to attend masses over the weekend. Residents said they are concerned about the increasing crime and their overall neighborhood safety.

I met with Capt. Rick Orozco today who is in charge of the area command for Beat 19X. He said the recent shootings in the area invovled retaliation and are gang-related between the Border Borthers and Nortenos

Orozco said the police are specifically looking at three locations in the area and one liquor store that are known locations or "hot spots" for gang activities. Orozco, Tucker, Father Ruiz, Council President Ignacio De La Fuente and community leaders from Oakland Community Organizations are meeting today to discuss strategies for tackling the area's crime.

He said that the traffic enforcement, crime reduction, patrol and problem solving officers will work closely with officers in the gang unit.

The East Lake San Antonio Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council meeting will be held tonight at 6:30 p.m. St. Anthony School, 1500 E. 15th. St. The community is encouraged to attend and meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month.

"The community needs to get more invovled,'' said Capt. Orozco. Parents need to be able to recognize the gang graffiti and other signs that indicate their kids may be invovled with gangs, he added.

Below is a copy of tonight's meeting agenda.

Meeting Purpose: To address crime and other issues in the Eastlake and San Antonio neighborhoods.

Meeting Outcome: To identify current issues in the neighborhood, select the top priorities for the community, OPD and other city staff to work on in the next month. To increase understanding about how to report & address neighborhood concerns.

Facilitator: Edith Guillen, Neighborhood Services Coordinator Timekeeper: Bob Wise Scribe: Ana Martinez Secretary: Milagros Bolanos