A man has been transported for medical treatment after being shot in the head at People’s Park in Berkeley on Friday afternoon.
According to Berkeley Fire Department spokesperson Keith May, the Fire Department received reports of the shooting about 2:43 p.m. and arrived on the scene about 2:50 p.m. to take the victim to a local trauma facility. He added that UCPD is still investigating the crime.
UCPD issued two Nixle alerts at 3:15 p.m. and 3:29 p.m. Friday, notifying the community that the shooter has not yet been detained and urging the community to avoid the area.
At 5:39 p.m., UCPD announced in a third Nixle alert that the park is “all clear” and that the investigation would continue.
UC Berkeley Vice Chancellor of Administration Marc Fisher said in a campuswide email that UCPD has determined that the victim is not affiliated with the campus. Investigators believe the suspect is also not affiliated the campus.
Fisher said UCPD believes there is no immediate danger in the area of People’s Park at this point. Officers have taped off the southwest corner of the park.
Siamak Fahimi, who was sitting at a table in People’s Park when the shooter approached, said the suspect double-parked on Dwight Way and then ran out of the car into the park. Lisa Teague, a member of the People’s Park Committee, said several people present had seen the suspect before.
According to Fahimi, the suspect ran back into the car after the shooting and headed east on Dwight Way. He added that the victim was still breathing when taken into the ambulance.
“It happened very quick,” Fahimi said. “There was a lot of blood on the ground.”
Check back for updates.
Senior staff writers Amanda Bradford and Alexandra Casey and staff writer Brandon Yung contributed to this report.