Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky said in a series of tweets over the weekend that the company was banning all "party houses" and "redoubling" its efforts to screen renters considered "high-risk" in the aftermath of a Halloween shooting at an unauthorized house party in Orinda.
"We must do better, and we will," Chesky wrote. "This is unacceptable."
Chesky outlined steps that Airbnb is immediately taking, which include creating "a dedicated 'party house' rapid response team," and getting rid of "abusive host and guest conduct."
Chesky's announcement came as a fifth victim was identified as having died at the hospital following the shooting. No suspect has been publicly named, and police say a suspect is still at large.
What happened on Thursday night in Orinda, CA was horrible. I feel for the families and neighbors impacted by this tragedy - we are working to support them.
— Brian Chesky (@bchesky) November 2, 2019
Starting today, we are banning “party houses” and we are redoubling our efforts to combat unauthorized parties and get rid of abusive host and guest conduct, including conduct that leads to the terrible events we saw in Orinda. Here is what we are doing:
— Brian Chesky (@bchesky) November 2, 2019
Second, we are creating a dedicated “party house” rapid response team.
— Brian Chesky (@bchesky) November 2, 2019
Third, we are taking immediate action against users who violate these enhanced guest policies, including removal.
— Brian Chesky (@bchesky) November 2, 2019
I have directed Margaret Richardson from our Executive Team to oversee this new team and initiate a 10 day sprint to review and accelerate the development and implementation of these new safety initiatives.
— Brian Chesky (@bchesky) November 2, 2019
We must do better, and we will. This is unacceptable.
— Brian Chesky (@bchesky) November 2, 2019
The five people who died in the shooting have been identified as Tiyon Farley, 22, of Antioch; Omar Taylor, 24, of Pittsburg; Ramon Hill Jr., 23, of San Francisco and Oakland; Javin County, 29, of Sausalito and Richmond; and Oshiana Tompkins, 19, of Vallejo and Hercules. The Associated Press also spoke to Romond Reynolds who said his 24-year-old son Armani Reynolds was shot and has been in a coma since Thursday.
Family members of Taylor spoke to ABC 7 over the weekend and said he had been at the party to work as a DJ.
On Friday we learned that the City of Orinda had cited the homeowners and received multiple complaints in the last year about unauthorized parties at the house on Lucille Way. The city believed that the homeowners had resolved the issues with the house, and the homeowners said they had explicitly put a "no parties" stipulation on their Airbnb listing.
Nonetheless, they agreed to a one-night rental of the house to a woman who claimed 12 family members with asthma were seeking an escape from the smell of smoke from the North Bay fires. As the Associated Press reports, Airbnb is now "urgently investigating" what happened.
The police investigation into the shooting also continues, and as KRON 4 reports, two guns were recovered at the scene which may or may not have been used in the shooting.
Previously: Will Airbnb or Homeowners Get Sued Over Halloween 'Mansion Party' Shooting?
Photo: Dllu/Wikimedia
