Hellcat
Registered
58-year-old singer and fleeing teenager injured
By Harry Harris and Chauncey Bailey, STAFF WRITERS
OAKLAND -- The serenity of a church choir practice was shattered by gunfire Thursday night, wounding a teenager and a 58-year-old singer, police said.
On Friday, police were trying to confirm whether the shooting stemmed from the gunman's belief that the wounded 16-year-old boy had stolen a car from him.
The shooting happened about 8:30 p.m. at the Fisher Memorial Church, 8901 MacArthur Blvd., where Pastor Alfred Fisher and several church members were conducting choir practice. Fisher was accompanying the singers with his guitar.
Violence on the street outside
invaded the sanctuary, however.
Officer Kyle Thomas said a 16-year-old boy was crossing the street when a sport utility vehicle pulled up and a rear passenger waving a gun got out and began chasing
the youth, firing several shots at him.
As the g
unman bore down on him, the teenager ran into the church.
The gunman, who had already fired several shots, apparently stopped at the front door and fired more rounds as those inside dove for cover.
One of the bullets grazed the boy's back.
Another hit choir member Ruby Blackson, 58, of Oakland in the side.
As she fell to the floor wounded, she yelled to her sister, Nellie Dykes, who was also at the practice, that she had been shot.
The gunman then fled and was seen getting back into the SUV, which sped south on 89th Avenue.
Church members locked the door and began praying for the two wounded until police arrived a few minutes later.
Both Blackson and the 16-year-old were taken to a lo
cal hospital for treatment, with Blackson having to undergo surgery. The boy was treated and released, but Blackson was in critical condition Friday and not able to talk.
Thomas said the boy tol
d police the gunman may have been trying to kill him because he thought he had stolen a car
from him in another area of East Oakland. He said the boy denied stealing the car.
The suspect was described as an African-American man age 20 to 22, about 5 feet 6 inches tall and 120 pounds with a beard and mustache. He was wearing a black beanie and a black "puff" coat.
"The guy ran into the church and we heard some shots. I just know two people were shot. Someone said, 'Let's go momma, they're trying to kill us,'" said a young man standing across the street late Thursday who declined to give his name.
Residents in Blackson's West Oakland neighborhood were shocked and disturbed by the news. "I saw her when she was leaving for choir practice," sa
id Madison Slaughter, manager of the apartment building in the 1800 block of Chestnut Street where Blackson has lived for about a year.
"Her sister called to tell us what happened, and
we've been calling the hospital," Slaughter said. "We're going to see her. Ruby was always in good spirits. She likes to cook, feed you. You'd be glad
to see her. She liked listening to Christian tapes in her car."
Nearby, at the West Oakland Senior Center in the 1700 block of Adeline Street, seniors there also worried about Blackson's medical condition.
From November 2002 to April of this year, Blackson had been enrolled at ASSETS, a senior employment program that offers training to help seniors reenter the work force. "She was getting office skills and training to be a receptionist," said Jennifer D. King, director of the center.
"Ruby is warm, friendly, enjoys cooking and is deeply religious, and she would take care of her grandchildren,"
King said.
Crime Stoppers of Oakland is offering up to $2,000 in reward money for information leading to the arrest of the suspect. Anyone with information can call police at 238-3
426 or Crime Stoppers at 238-6946.
http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Stories/0,14...2223084,00.html
By Harry Harris and Chauncey Bailey, STAFF WRITERS
OAKLAND -- The serenity of a church choir practice was shattered by gunfire Thursday night, wounding a teenager and a 58-year-old singer, police said.
On Friday, police were trying to confirm whether the shooting stemmed from the gunman's belief that the wounded 16-year-old boy had stolen a car from him.
The shooting happened about 8:30 p.m. at the Fisher Memorial Church, 8901 MacArthur Blvd., where Pastor Alfred Fisher and several church members were conducting choir practice. Fisher was accompanying the singers with his guitar.
Violence on the street outside
invaded the sanctuary, however.
Officer Kyle Thomas said a 16-year-old boy was crossing the street when a sport utility vehicle pulled up and a rear passenger waving a gun got out and began chasing
the youth, firing several shots at him.
As the g
unman bore down on him, the teenager ran into the church.
The gunman, who had already fired several shots, apparently stopped at the front door and fired more rounds as those inside dove for cover.
One of the bullets grazed the boy's back.
Another hit choir member Ruby Blackson, 58, of Oakland in the side.
As she fell to the floor wounded, she yelled to her sister, Nellie Dykes, who was also at the practice, that she had been shot.
The gunman then fled and was seen getting back into the SUV, which sped south on 89th Avenue.
Church members locked the door and began praying for the two wounded until police arrived a few minutes later.
Both Blackson and the 16-year-old were taken to a lo
cal hospital for treatment, with Blackson having to undergo surgery. The boy was treated and released, but Blackson was in critical condition Friday and not able to talk.
Thomas said the boy tol
d police the gunman may have been trying to kill him because he thought he had stolen a car
from him in another area of East Oakland. He said the boy denied stealing the car.
The suspect was described as an African-American man age 20 to 22, about 5 feet 6 inches tall and 120 pounds with a beard and mustache. He was wearing a black beanie and a black "puff" coat.
"The guy ran into the church and we heard some shots. I just know two people were shot. Someone said, 'Let's go momma, they're trying to kill us,'" said a young man standing across the street late Thursday who declined to give his name.
Residents in Blackson's West Oakland neighborhood were shocked and disturbed by the news. "I saw her when she was leaving for choir practice," sa
id Madison Slaughter, manager of the apartment building in the 1800 block of Chestnut Street where Blackson has lived for about a year.
"Her sister called to tell us what happened, and
we've been calling the hospital," Slaughter said. "We're going to see her. Ruby was always in good spirits. She likes to cook, feed you. You'd be glad
to see her. She liked listening to Christian tapes in her car."
Nearby, at the West Oakland Senior Center in the 1700 block of Adeline Street, seniors there also worried about Blackson's medical condition.
From November 2002 to April of this year, Blackson had been enrolled at ASSETS, a senior employment program that offers training to help seniors reenter the work force. "She was getting office skills and training to be a receptionist," said Jennifer D. King, director of the center.
"Ruby is warm, friendly, enjoys cooking and is deeply religious, and she would take care of her grandchildren,"
King said.
Crime Stoppers of Oakland is offering up to $2,000 in reward money for information leading to the arrest of the suspect. Anyone with information can call police at 238-3
426 or Crime Stoppers at 238-6946.
http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Stories/0,14...2223084,00.html