Oakland police investigate a shooting in the 4800 block of Congress Avenue in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
A 31-year-old shot and killed here last month has been identified and the investigation led to the arrest of a man who was later released, authorities said.
Eugene Richardson, 31, of San Leandro, and a 32-year-old man he was with were shot at around 10:15 p.m. on May 17, while standing near 89th Avenue and D Street. Richardson died three days later in a hospital, and the other victim survived a bullet wound to the leg, authorities said.
On May 22, police arrested a 40-year-old Sacramento man on suspicion of gun possession in connection with the investigation, but released him later without charges. The man has an unrelated gun case filed last April, and also has a voluntary manslaughter conviction on his record, authorities said.
Authorities say that when he was killed, Richardson was in possession of at least one firearm and brandished a pistol shortly before being fatally shot. The second victim ran from the scene but walked into an East Bay hospital later that night.
Police are still investigating whether Richardson knew his killer but they believe he and the other men were the intended targets.
The killing is the 31st homicide investigated by Oakland police this year.
Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering up to $15,000 in reward money for information leading to the arrest of the shooter. Anyone with information may call police at 510-238-3821 or 510-238-7950 or Crime Stoppers at 510-777-8572.
Originally published at Nate Gartrell