ALBANY, Calif. (KRON) — A suspect involved in a domestic violence shooting at a Toyota service center in Albany exchanged gunfire with Berkeley Police Department officers Thursday morning, police say. Both the suspect and an employee of the store were killed.
Witnesses saw the suspect shoot a female employee inside the Toyota service center, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office said. Police then responded and were involved in a shooting. Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín said the suspect was shot by the officers. The shooting of the victim by the suspect was determined to be an act of domestic violence, according to investigators.
At 11:14 a.m., Berkeley and Albany police dispatch centers both received several 911 calls from people inside the Toyota service center in Albany that reported a man entered the business with a gun and shot an employee, ACSO said. Berkeley PD officers were the first to arrive at the scene and evacuated the area.
Officers immediately entered the business to search for the gunman, the sheriff’s office said. Police located a victim as well as a suspect. After locating the suspect on the second floor, gunfire occurred between the suspect and multiple Berkeley police officers, according to authorities.
Berkeley PD requested assistance from the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office after the shooting. The Albany Police Department is leading the homicide investigation.
There is an internal investigation underway to determine if the officers followed department protocol in the shooting, Berkeley police officials said.
Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín released a statement following the shooting.
Berkeley’s first responders leapt into action and into harm’s way this morning, and their rapid response may have prevented further casualties. We are grateful to our officers for putting their lives on the line to confront this armed suspect. On behalf of the City of Berkeley I want to extend our heartfelt condolences to the victim’s family. The number of guns on our streets continues to pose an unacceptable threat to our community and the many women and men who go to work every day to protect us.”
Mayor Jesse Arreguín
There is no current threat to the public, police said. The Toyota Service Center is located at 1025 Eastshore Hwy, which is located near the city border between Berkeley and Albany.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
