Police said the traffic stop began after officers saw a gun inside the car.
OAKLAND, Calif. — An Oakland police officer shot and wounded a 21-year-old driver early Friday after police said he tried to flee a traffic stop, dragged two officers and pinned one between vehicles near International Boulevard.
Both officers were taken to a hospital and later released, police said. The driver, a Sacramento resident whose name was not released, was also hospitalized and is expected to survive. The shooting is now under review by Oakland police, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office and the city’s Community Police Review Agency.
The stop happened about 3:15 a.m. in the 1200 block of 9th Avenue. Police said officers saw a gun in plain view inside the vehicle and later learned it had been reported stolen. Interim Police Chief James Beere said the driver tried to leave as officers were still close to the car. “Both officers were dragged, and eventually the vehicle crashed next to a parked car, pinning one of the officers,” Beere said.
The pinned officer then fired at the driver, striking him, police said. Investigators have not released the number of shots fired, the driver’s injuries or the reason for the original traffic stop. By Friday morning, crime scene tape surrounded a white car with its front end up on the sidewalk. Evidence markers were placed along the street and sidewalk before a tow truck removed the vehicle.
The shooting happened near International Boulevard in an area sometimes called the Blade, a corridor long associated with street-level sex trafficking. City Councilmember Charlene Wang, who represents the neighborhood, said the incident showed the danger officers face during enforcement work. She said the city would not stop enforcement in the area because of the shooting.
Beere said officers are allowed to defend themselves when they face serious danger. “Use of force is something we never want to take lightly or resort to, but our officers have the right to defend themselves,” he said at a Friday news conference.
The case marks the second time in 11 days that an Oakland officer fired a gun. The earlier shooting, on April 28, left a man dead. Under department policy, the officers involved in Friday’s shooting will be placed on paid administrative leave while the investigations continue.
Police had not announced charges against the driver by Friday afternoon. The next steps include reviews of evidence, officer statements and any available video from the scene.
Author note: Last updated May 9, 2026.