Man with Replica Gun Shot by Oakland PD at ‘Sideshow’

Late Sunday afternoon, Oakland police fatally shot a man at a “sideshow” when he pointed what looked like a firearm at them.

Two “sideshows,” in which cars spin in a circle chasing each other, caused havoc in East Oakland Sunday as they shut down traffic. The shooting occurred following a sideshow around 12:45 a.m. on Interstate Highway 880 in Oakland, according to Bay City News Service, which reported that roughly 200 cars drove onto Interstate Highway 880 in the wrong direction. Roughly 17 hours later, at around 5:30 p.m., near 90th Ave. and Bancroft Ave., officers were attempting to tow some of the vehicles away when the victim approached them, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

The Contra Costa Times reported that several officers fired at the victim; after he was hit, officers performed lifesaving measures until an ambulance arrived. A mob jumped on a police cruiser and smashed it, as participants shouted, “Fight the police!”, as seen here. The police department tweeted a photo of the replica gun brandished by the victim.

Another “sideshow” occurred later near International Boulevard and 55th Ave., according to the California Highway Patrol.

An estimated 700 cars participated in the “sideshows” on Sunday.