A block party in East Oakland Sunday night, which turned into a sideshow with cars doing donuts, etc., turned deadly when an unknown assailant (or multiple assailants) began shooting into the crowd, critically injuring one and killing two people. There is no known motive for the incident, and police still don't have any suspects.
The party began peacefully enough, it seems. One victim, LaToya Kenny, 28, of Union City, had her mother with her when she died, just moments after she had been taking pictures and asking to borrow some lip gloss. She was a nurse and a mother of two.
The shots rang out at around 9:15 p.m. near 88th and International Boulevard. The second victim, Eric Bush, 29, of San Leandro, had been celebrating his birthday over the weekend.
Eyewitnesses say that the shooters had no clear motive, and that there were children present at the party. Some reports have stressed the proximity of the East Bay Dragons motorcycle club, which was near the shooting. However, the Dragons say the place was closed all day and that members were all at an off-site barbecue, after which no one returned to the club.
This brings Oakland's murder total up to 47, 33% higher than it was at this time last year.