About 30 representatives of police, prosecutors, mental health agencies, business groups and others will meet with a crime expert to discuss ways to reduce murders and other violence here.
Just a few years ago, the California city was winning acclaim as a national model for gun violence prevention. Last year, a regional trauma center treated 502 gunshot victims, compared to just 283 in 2019.
OAKLAND, Calif. — The red-tipped bullet pierces skin and melts into it, Javier Velasquez Lopez explains. The green-tipped bullet penetrates armored vests. And the hollow-tipped bullet expands as it tears
A few years ago, Oakland won national acclaim for slashing gun-related crimes. Then the covid-19 pandemic tore through poor neighborhoods, and the murder of George Floyd fueled distrust in police. With guns readily available, violent crime has once again skyrocketed, leaving the community struggling to contain it.
Oaklanders, many of whom take pride in the ethnic diversity of their city, are upset about the rise in violent crime. A broad cross-section of residents say they no longer feel safe.