An incident involving an armed man and Oakland police resulted in a shooting on July 13. Authorities reported that Jose Angel Castillo, 43, was carrying two makeshift spears when officers confronted him near a homeless encampment at 40th Avenue and International Boulevard. Video footage shows officers ordering Castillo to drop his weapons before gunfire ensued. The confrontation began around 2 p.m. after the California Highway Patrol requested assistance from the Oakland Police Department (OPD). Officers reported that Castillo was behaving aggressively and armed with multiple weapons, including knives and a hammer.
As the situation escalated, officers repeatedly commanded Castillo to drop the weapons. Despite these commands, he allegedly lunged at the officers, prompting them to respond with both less-lethal and lethal force. Castillo was struck by gunfire and subsequently died at the scene, despite attempts at life-saving measures by the officers. No officers or bystanders were injured during the incident.
The officers involved have been placed on paid administrative leave as per department policy. The shooting is under investigation by OPD, the Alameda County District Attorney's Office, and Oakland's Community Police Review Agency. Civil rights attorney Jim Chanin has raised concerns regarding the use of force in this incident, questioning whether deadly force was justified. OPD has stated its commitment to transparency and will provide updates as the investigation progresses.