Bullets Sever Live Power Line In Oakland; 19-Year-Old Electrocuted, Another Man Seriously Hurt
OAKLAND (CBS SF) -- Multiple bullets appear to have been fired at a single power line, severing the electrified cable, and causing it to drop onto two Oakland men, killing one, and causing critical injuries to another.
Police responded to a call of shots fired on July 4th, at 11:35 p.m. near Birth Street and 89th Avenue in Oakland. When they arrived, they found two men unconscious, with a downed power line between them.
Jermaine Tarver, a 19-year-old, died at the hospital. Tresylian Redd, 23 years old, is in critical but stable condition. The men's family tells KPIX 5 that one man tried to save the other, but was electrocuted in the process.
PG&E responded to the scene and shut off power to the surrounding area. With continued gunfire reported in the area, crews returned the next day to repair the damage and restore power to 65 customers.
"Our preliminary investigation shows gunfire to be the cause of the equipment becoming damaged and falling to the ground," said PG&E spokesperson Tamar Sarkissian.
Oakland police are asking anyone with information about the incident to call the Homicide Unit at (510) 238-3821.