Oakland marijuana business security officers in gun battle with looters
OAKLAND CA Nov 23 2021— An exchange of gunfire early Sunday between looters and security guards at an East Oakland marijuana business left a suspect wounded, authorities said.
The marijuana dispensary and distribution center in the 300 block of Pendleton Way was one of several targeted by looters between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. Sunday but it is not known if the incidents are connected, authorities said.
Police said more than 10 people in several cars came to the Pendleton Way site at 12:27 a.m. Sunday and gained entry after threatening someone inside at gunpoint.
Once inside, the looters grabbed a large amount of marijuana and started to flee, police said.
They were confronted by two security guards outside, and a gun battle ensued, police said.
One of the suspected looters, a 32-year-old Oakland man, was wounded in the exchange of shots. He was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he was in stable condition, police said.
The other suspects fled.
Police were trying to determine if two people who showed up at hospitals later with gunshot wounds had been at the Pendleton location or were shot elsewhere.
Authorities believe the looters who hit the Pendleton Way business also targeted another marijuana business earlier on nearby Oakport Street.
According to authorities and prior media accounts, marijuana dispensaries and other related businesses have become frequent targets of robbers and looters and there have been shootings at some of the sites.
