Advertisement

Four fans inside Athletics' stadium injured by bullet fragments during postgame fireworks show

Four fans attending the fireworks show after Monday night's Oakland Athletics game were injured by bullet fragments fired by unknown people during what the Oakland Police Department calls "celebratory gunfire," which was occurring all around the city.

These fans were inside RingCentral Coliseum, the A's ballpark, according to a statement released by the OPD and the Athletics PR department.

Following last night’s Oakland A’s postgame fireworks show, officers were notified of a possible shooting victim inside the ballpark. During the preliminary investigation, officers located three fans struck by bullet fragments from what appears to be celebratory gunfire occurring throughout the city of Oakland. A fourth victim later walked into a local hospital. All four victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

The identities, injuries, and condition of the injured fans have not been released.

The A's had faced the Toronto Blue Jays before the fireworks began, winning 5-1. There were 24,403 fans at the ballpark, the largest Fourth of July crowd in nine years, according to Ray Ratto of Defector. That was partially due to the fireworks show the A's put on after the game, as well as tickets priced as low as $7.

"I think if it wasn't Fourth of July, it would be more alarming. Any time during Fourth of July, I can remember this growing up, it's never safe but people tend to do things that aren't in the ordinary," A's manager Mark Kotsay said before the series resumed Tuesday night, via The Associated Press. "That's firing weapons in the air in terms of celebration. It's really unfortunate that we had that happen here in the Coliseum and there were people injured. I know we've reached out to those people."

The OPD said in the statement that it will continue to work with A's security to "ensure the safety of all those attending future A’s games at the Coliseum." They also announced a $20,000 reward to anyone who provides information that leads to an arrest, which is being provided by the OPD and Oakland Crime Stoppers.

"From a safety standpoint, I think the Coliseum is a safe environment," Kotsay said, via The Associated Press. "It's just unfortunate that on a holiday with the fireworks show that people were injured."

Fireworks erupt over RingCentral Coliseum after a baseball game between the Oakland Athletics and the Toronto Blue Jays in Oakland, Calif., Monday, July 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Fireworks erupt over RingCentral Coliseum after a baseball game between the Oakland Athletics and the Toronto Blue Jays in Oakland, California, on Monday, July 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) (AP)