Stray bullet from rolling gunfight wounds Oakland driver

OAKLAND — A stray bullet from an exchange of gunfire from occupants of two cars wounded a 36-year-old man driving in East Oakland on Thursday evening, authorities said.

The Oakland man, who was wounded in the neck, remained hospitalized Friday. His condition was not available.

The man was shot about 5 p.m. Thursday at the intersection of 16th Avenue and East 12th Street near an overpass above Interstate 880.

The man was able to tell police he was driving westbound on East 12th Street and was stopped at the intersection when he was shot. He was able to drive to a nearby parking lot, where police were called.

Authorities said the initial investigation indicated that the occupants of two vehicles driving southbound on 16th Avenue were exchanging gunfire and that the 36-year-old man was hit by a stray bullet. The two vehicles continued across the overpass and were last seen on Embarcadero. It does not appear that any of those vehicle occupants were injured.

The shooting activated a gunshot detection system and several shell casings were recovered in the area, authorities said.

Detailed descriptions of the suspects and the vehicles they were in were not released.

Interstate 880 was shut down in the area for a period while officers searched for additional evidence and to make sure there were no other victims.

Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering up to $5,000 in reward money for information leading to the arrest of the shooters. Anyone with information may call police at 510-238-3426 or Crime Stoppers at 510-777-8572.