OAKLAND, Calif. — Four baseball fans were injured by bullet fragments from outside the Coliseum while attending a postgame July 4 fireworks show, Oakland police and the Athletics said Tuesday.
None of the injuries were life-threatening, police and the A’s said.
Because the A’s 5-1 victory over the Blue Jays lasted just 2 hours, 27 minutes, it wasn’t yet dark enough for the fireworks show to start. Fans from a season-high crowd of 24,403 were allowed onto the playing field just after 9 pm local time.
« The Oakland Police Department [OPD] is investigating firearm-related injuries that occurred on July 4, 2022, after 9:30 pm, in the 7000 block of Coliseum Way, » police and the A’s said in a joint statement.
Police initially were notified of a possible shooting victim inside the ballpark, and officers located three fans struck by bullet fragments « from what appears to be celebratory gunfire occurring throughout the city of Oakland, » the statement said. An additional victim walked into a hospital.
« I think if it wasn’t Fourth of July, it would be more alarming. Any time during Fourth of July, I can remember this growing up, it’s never safe but people tend to do things that aren’t in the ordinary, » A’s manager Mark Kotsay said before the series resumed Tuesday night. « That’s firing weapons in the air in terms of celebration. It’s really unfortunate that we had that happen here in the Coliseum and there were people injured. I know we’ve reached out to those people. »
An investigation is ongoing, and the Oakland Police Department and Crime Stoppers of Oakland offered a reward up to $20,000 for information leading to an arrest or arrests.
Police reiterated their joint efforts with the A’s and the team’s security to keep everyone attending games in the venue safe.
« From a safety standpoint, I think the Coliseum is a safe environment, » Kotsay said. « It’s just unfortunate that on a holiday with the fireworks show that people were injured. »
