OAKLAND, Calif. — 4 baseball followers have been injured by bullet fragments from outdoors the Coliseum whereas attending a postgame July 4 fireworks present, Oakland police and the Athletics stated Tuesday.
Not one of the accidents have been life-threatening, police and the A’s stated.
As a result of the A’s 5-1 victory over the Blue Jays lasted simply 2 hours, 27 minutes, it wasn’t but darkish sufficient for the fireworks present to begin. Followers from a season-high crowd of 24,403 have been allowed onto the taking part in area simply after 9 p.m. native time.
“The Oakland Police Division [OPD] is investigating firearm-related accidents that occurred on July 4, 2022, after 9:30 p.m., within the 7000 block of Coliseum Means,” police and the A’s stated in a joint assertion.
Police initially have been notified of a attainable capturing sufferer contained in the ballpark, and officers situated three followers struck by bullet fragments “from what seems to be celebratory gunfire occurring all through the town of Oakland,” the assertion stated. An extra sufferer walked right into a hospital.
“I feel if it wasn’t Fourth of July, it could be extra alarming. Any time throughout Fourth of July, I can bear in mind this rising up, it is by no means secure however individuals are inclined to do issues that are not within the odd,” A’s supervisor Mark Kotsay stated earlier than the sequence resumed Tuesday night time. “That is firing weapons within the air by way of celebration. It is actually unlucky that we had that occur right here within the Coliseum and there have been individuals injured. I do know we have reached out to these individuals.”
An investigation is ongoing, and the Oakland Police Division and Crime Stoppers of Oakland provided a reward as much as $20,000 for info resulting in an arrest or arrests.
Police reiterated their joint efforts with the A’s and the workforce’s safety to maintain everybody attending video games within the venue secure.
“From a security standpoint, I feel the Coliseum is a secure setting,” Kotsay stated. “It is simply unlucky that on a vacation with the fireworks present that individuals have been injured.”
