Gas station shootout during botched Oakland robbery leaves 1 dead, retired police captain injured
Retired Oakland police captain Ersie Joyner was wounded and another person died in a gun battle during an attempted robbery at an Oakland gas station, according to sources. Surveillance video shows the robbery at the pump and shots that followed.
OAKLAND, Calif. – Retired Oakland police captain Ersie Joyner was wounded and another person died in a gun battle during an attempted robbery at an Oakland gas station, according to sources. Surveillance video shows the robbery at the pump and shots that followed.
GRAPHIC: Surveillance video shows deadly shootout between attempted robbery suspect and retired OPD captain
Warning: Some viewers may find this content disturbing. The video comes from the Chevron gas station where the incident unfolded Thursday afternoon.
On Thursday, Joyner was at a Chevron station in the 1700 block of Castro Street in West Oakland pumping gas when three suspects pulled up in a black car and attempted to rob him at gunpoint around 1 p.m., sources told KTVU.
That’s when Joyner pulled his own gun and opened fire, hitting and killing one of the suspects and injuring another. Two of the suspected robbers returned fire and injured Joyner. The video suggests at least a fourth person was involved, who acted as a getaway driver.
Joyner has undergone surgery at Highland Hospital and was in the intensive care unit, according to a source. Police said the victim is in critical but stable condition.
The identity of the deceased alleged robber is being withheld until his family is notified.
Oakland police update fatal gas station shootout involving retired police captain
Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong says it’s early in the investigation where a retired police captain was injured in a gun battle after an attempted robbery incident at an Oakland gas station.
Ret. Oakland Police Capt. Ersie Joyner interviewed by KTVU on Aug. 28, 2018. (KTVU FOX 2)
The city’s ShotSpotter system alerted police to the gunfire. Officers found Joyner and the other person suffering from gunshot wounds.
Yellow evidence markers were arrayed near the gas pumps later in the afternoon when SkyFOX flew overhead.
Joyner was the former head of the police department’s Ceasefire program. He retired two years ago after a 28-year career. After his work in law enforcement, Joyner got into the cannabis industry and owns a cannabis company. Whether that made him a target is not clear.
At an evening news conference Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong said it was early in the investigation. He did not explicitly confirm the identity of the victim, only saying the victim is a “retired officer” who is “lawfully able to carry a firearm.”
SEE ALSO: New video shows suspect vehicle in Oakland road-rage homicide, police seeking leads
Armstrong spoke of the surveillance video that had already surfaced and was made public by various media outlets. He said the video was clear and a key part of their investigation, but that police would not be releasing the video at this time and would when it was “appropriate.”
“This highlights the violence that we’ve seen in this city this entire year. We have seen so many tragic situations. We have seen so many people lose their lives as a result of violence,” Chief Armstrong said. He said the incident was exemplary of how brazen those involved in this activity can be.
Over his career, Joyner was involved in five shootings as an officer, one of which led to an inquiry and settlement. He is married with two children.
Mayor Libby Schaaf and top brass from the police department have gone to Highland Hospital.
No arrests have been made. Today’s incident marks Oakland’s 115th homicide of 2021.
No further information was immediately available.
One person died and a retired Oakland police captain wounded during a gun battle at an Oakland gas station.
