August 27 marked the sixth officer-involved shooting by Oakland police in 2015, and the fourth resulting in death. This does not count Richard Linyard, who police claim suffocated to death after he squeezed himself between two buildings during a police chase. All of OPD's victims this year have been of African descent. The victim was 30-year-old Yonas Alehegne and it's been reported that he was homeless and an immigrant, possibly from West Africa.

Police were called after Yonas was found sleeping in or around the parking garage of a Lake Merritt-area apartment building near the intersection of MacArthur & Van Buren, next to I-580 and just above Grand Avenue. OPD responded by racing up to the man and shooting him down in the street after he reportedly swung a chain at Jennifer Farrell, an 18-year veteran of the department.

Witnesses report that police let the man bleed out without rendering medical aid, while a police officer with non-life-threatening injuries was rushed to the hospital. That evening, protesters gathered at the scene, speaking out against the continuing slaughter of Black men and women by police and cops' refusal to utilize proven de-escalation techniques rather than hurtling headlong toward the use of deadly force. Protesters marched through the streets as night fell.

Read More

Previous Related Indybay Feature: Nate Wilks Shot and Killed by Oakland Police for Running While Black