OAKLAND, CA—A "heartbroken" Alameda County Sheriff's Office cancelled academy training classes and made grief counselors available for their members Wednesday following the freeway shooting death of a recruit Tuesday near the Bay Bridge Toll Plaza.
"I just came from the (training) academy, and it is definitely not business as usual," sheriff's office spokesman Sgt. J.D. Nelson said. "There's a lot of emotions. So it's a tough day."
Authorities did not immediately identify the recruit, and Nelson said there was no time estimate on when that might happen. The California Highway Patrol is investigating the shooting, because it happened on the freeway.
A crash initially was reported around 4:30 p.m. on the transition from westbound Interstate 580 to westbound Interstate 80, according to the CHP. Officers arrived and quickly determined the recruit had been shot. He was the only occupant.
The sheriff's office said he was driving home from training. He was not in uniform.
The CHP said a preliminary investigation revealed the recruit veered to the left and hit a guardrail after being struck by gunfire. The crash caused moderate damage to the vehicle.
The recruit died from his injuries at Highland Hospital in Oakland, the CHP said.
On Twitter, the sheriff's office posted, "We are heartbroken and disturbed by this senseless act of gun violence."
The homicide was third one within Oakland city limits in 2022. Oakland police also were investigating a fourth homicide early Wednesday in East Oakland.
Last year there were 134 homicides in Oakland, not including five others investigated by the CHP.
The CHP urged anyone with information related to the case to contact their tip line at 707-917-4491.
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