OAKLEY – As new details emerged about an Oakley house party shooting that left one teenager dead and three others injured, police and school officials tried to dispel a rumor that Freedom and Liberty high schools faced an additional “threat of violence.”
In a statement Monday, Oakley police Chief Paul Beard identified the deceased teenager as a 16-year-old boy. Another 16-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy remained in the hospital, but a 17-year-old girl was released.
The shooting happened around 11:15 p.m. Saturday outside a residence in the 400 block of Shannon Way.
Beard said his investigators have spoken to multiple people who were associated with the party or witnessed the shooting. They have also collected video footage from the neighborhood, which Beard said he believes will be critical to solving the case.
“We are doing all of these things in hopes of making an arrest in this case,” Beard said.
Beard also addressed an “unverified and unvetted rumor” that spurred several students to walk out of Freedom High School on Monday.
“It appears as if the presence of this rumor on social media created even more concern,” the police chief said. “So far our investigation has not revealed any information that suggests there is a threat of violence at any school due to the shooting on Saturday night and we urge families to resume normal school and daily activities.”
Liberty Union High School District Superintendent Eric Volta concurred with Beard.
“The biggest thing is that even though high school kids attended this event, police have not found any connection to school being a reason this happened,” Volta said. “The investigation has shown a negation to the rumor that there is any sort of threat of violence to either (Liberty or Freedom) high schools or the people that go there.”
Volta said counselors were available at both high schools and would remain there “as long as we need them.”
The deceased teen attended Liberty High. In a message to parents, Principal Efa Huckaby said students and staff members could find counseling services in the school library. He also offered his “heartfelt condolences to the victims and their families.”
“We know a traumatic event like this can send shockwaves through a community,” Huckaby said.
Beard said he is receiving updates on the case, and the more he learns about it, the “more angry and sad I get that a multi-casualty event occurred.”
“The fact that it involved children makes it even worse,” he said. “This does not belong in Oakley, this does not belong anywhere. My investigators have my full support to do what they have to do to identify the killer in this case and to get him into custody.”
Check back for updates.
Source: www.mercurynews.com