OAKLAND — Illegal sideshow activity throughout the city Sunday morning that went on for several hours left a car set on fire and a spectator sent flying through the air after being hit by a participating vehicle, authorities said.
Police were also trying to confirm if two men who showed up in another city with gunshot wounds were injured at sideshows.
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The unsanctioned events, which have been a problem in Oakland for decades and have spread to other Bay Area cities, were at several locations from West Oakland to East Oakland between 1:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. attracting between dozens and hundreds of participants and observers, police said.
During sideshows, numerous vehicles spin donuts and do other kinds of reckless driving, many times with occupants of the vehicles hanging outside as observers cheer them on. But they also have become magnets of violence — some gang related — with numerous homicides, non-fatal shooting, robberies and other crimes happening in the mayhem surrounding the events over the years.
On Sunday morning, in the area of 98th Avenue and Interstate 580, a man who had been watching a sideshow was struck and sent airborne when he was hit by a participating vehicle. He was able to run away from the scene; it was not known if he may have sought treatment later at a hospital.
A BMW that had been part of a sideshow in the area of 17th Street and San Pablo Avenue was set on fire for some unknown reason and destroyed, authorities said.
About 4:15 a.m. Sunday, two men showed up at hospitals in another East Bay city, saying they were shot in different parts of East Oakland. The men initially said they were not shot at sideshows but until investigators have a chance to interview them, police have not completely ruled that out, authorities said.
Police responded as best they could to the various sites; with the assistance of sheriff’s deputies and California Highway Patrol officers, the sideshows eventually dispersed and there were no reports of anyone being arrested or participating vehicles seized.
Police were also trying to determine if it was sideshow participants who looted a gas station on Hegenberger Road about 2:30 a.m. Sunday, stealing thousands of dollars of cash and merchandise while the sole employee sought safety in a bathroom.
Anyone with information about any of the illegal activity may call police at 510-238-3426 or 510-238-3326. People with videos or photos that may assist in the investigations can email them to cidvideo@oaklandca.gov.
