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Halloween Shooting at Airbnb in Orinda, California, Leaves 4 Dead Halloween Shooting at Airbnb in Orinda, California, Leaves 4 Dead
(about 4 hours later)
ORINDA, Calif. — Four people were killed after a shooting broke out at a crowded Halloween party in Orinda, Calif., on Thursday night, according to the police and local news reports. ORINDA, Calif. — Four people were killed after a shooting broke out at a crowded Halloween party here on Thursday night, according to the police.
The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to requests for information on Friday, but it said on Twitter early Friday that there were four fatalities and several injuries. No arrests have been made, Chief David Cook of the Orinda Police Department said at a news conference on Friday afternoon. He would not discuss a potential motive.
“Orinda officers, assisted by law enforcement officers from the area, arrived on scene and found a large house party with over 100 attendees,” the sheriff’s office added in a statement. “There were three apparent gunshot victims who were pronounced deceased at the scene. Another died later at the hospital.” Law enforcement officers “found a large house party with over 100 attendees” after they arrived at the residence, the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “There were three apparent gunshot victims who were pronounced deceased at the scene. Another died later at the hospital.”
Witnesses told NBC Bay Area, a local news outlet, that the shooting happened at a Halloween party that was being held at an Airbnb rental in Orinda, which is about 15 miles east of San Francisco.Witnesses told NBC Bay Area, a local news outlet, that the shooting happened at a Halloween party that was being held at an Airbnb rental in Orinda, which is about 15 miles east of San Francisco.
The home where the shooting occurred is on a street shrouded with mature trees on a steep slope above downtown Orinda, a white-collar bedroom community home to technology executives, bankers and professors at the nearby University of California, Berkeley. Victims limping away from the crime scene could be seen in television footage from ABC7 News, while paramedics were shown loading at least one man on a stretcher into an ambulance.
An invitation for an “Airbnb Mansion Party” was posted to Instagram and has since been deleted, according to the local news outlet KTVU. Guests were asked to bring their own alcohol.
A neighbor told reporters that the party was overflowing into the street.A neighbor told reporters that the party was overflowing into the street.
“There were over 100 people in a house that really can only fit maybe 50,” he said.“There were over 100 people in a house that really can only fit maybe 50,” he said.
Victims limping away from the crime scene could be seen in television footage from ABC7 News, while paramedics were shown loading at least one man on a stretcher into an ambulance. The home where the shooting occurred is on a street shrouded with mature trees on a steep slope above downtown Orinda, a white-collar bedroom community home to technology executives, bankers and professors at the nearby University of California, Berkeley. (Stephen Curry, the N.B.A. star, used to live there as well.)
Two hours after the shooting, people who had attended the party huddled by their cars, still appearing dazed. None were willing to speak with a reporter.
David Cook, the chief of the Orinda Police Department, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday. He told The East Bay Times that officers had responded to a call reporting that shots had been fired shortly before 11 p.m. on Thursday, and that they arrived to find a party at a rental property. Four of the injured partygoers were transported to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, Ben Drew, a spokesman for the hospital, said. One died shortly after arriving. Of the survivors, one was in critical condition, another was in serious condition and a third had been treated and released, he said.
Romond Reynolds, the father of one of the shooting victims, had come by the property to retrieve his son’s car and was interviewed by KTVU. His son, Armani, was in stable condition, he told the station, but he had been “in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
In a statement on Friday, Airbnb said it was “horrified by this tragedy” and had offered support to local officials in the investigation.In a statement on Friday, Airbnb said it was “horrified by this tragedy” and had offered support to local officials in the investigation.
“Additionally, we have taken action to ban the booking guest from our platform,” the statement said. “Our thoughts are with the loved ones of the victims of this abhorrent act as well as the neighbors of the home.”“Additionally, we have taken action to ban the booking guest from our platform,” the statement said. “Our thoughts are with the loved ones of the victims of this abhorrent act as well as the neighbors of the home.”
Mayor Inga Miller of Orinda called the shooting “a tragedy of unimaginable gravity” and said the City Council would revisit existing rules governing short-term rentals.
The city manager, Steve Salomon, said at the news conference that the rental property had been the subject of two previous complaints about large parties and trash. Both of the complaints were resolved.
He said a city ordinance requires short-term rentals to register with the city, which this property did. The ordinance allows up to 13 people at a short-term rental.
Referring to the city’s rules, Mr. Salomon said: “The challenge and the underlying problem is these are not being followed. There are going to be folks who don’t follow the rules and, unfortunately, that’s the way the world works.”
The shooting occurred two days after three people were killed and nine others injured at a Halloween party in Long Beach, Calif., 25 miles south of Los Angeles. Three people were killed and at least 13 others were injured in a shooting at a food festival in Northern California in July.The shooting occurred two days after three people were killed and nine others injured at a Halloween party in Long Beach, Calif., 25 miles south of Los Angeles. Three people were killed and at least 13 others were injured in a shooting at a food festival in Northern California in July.
Thomas Fuller reported from Orinda, Jacey Fortin from New York and Elian Peltier from London. Thomas Fuller reported from Orinda, Jacey Fortin, Christopher Mele and Emily S. Rueb from New York, and Elian Peltier from London.