A female employee at an Albany car dealership was fatally shot late Thursday morning by a suspect who later died in an exchange of gunfire with Berkeley police, authorities confirmed.
Berkeley Police said officers were responding to a “critical incident” at 1025 Eastshore Highway just south of Buchanan Street in Albany city limits. The location, just east of the Buchanan Street exit from eastbound Interstate Highway 580/80, is the address of a Toyota of Berkeley dealership and service center.
The shooting was reported at about 11:14 a.m. Berkeley Police said arriving officers encountered a shooting victim and a suspect, and that there was an exchange of gunfire between multiple officers and the suspect.
Albany Police requested mutual aid from Berkeley Police and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, according to a Berkeley Police spokeswoman Jessica Perry, who said there was no immediate information on the condition of the victim or the suspect.
Police said there was no current threat to the community at this time and urged people to stay away from the area of Eastshore Highway between Buchanan Street and Harrison Street.
In a joint statement given by Alameda County Sheriff’s Office PIO Lt. Tya Modeste later Thursday afternoon, authorities confirmed that both Berkeley and Albany police received multiple calls reporting a man with a gun at the service center.
“We have one employee from the dealership deceased, a woman who was killed by the suspect. I can also confirm that the suspect is deceased,” Modeste said.
The woman died at the scene, as did the suspect after multiple officers returned fire, according to Modeste.
She said that while Albany police would be investigating the fatal shooting of the female employee at the dealership, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office would be taking the lead on the investigation into the fatal officer-involved shooting of the suspect.
Modeste said the sheriff’s office as well as Albany and Berkeley police remained at the scene investigating the shooting. The victim and the suspect have not been identified by authorities.
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Berkeley’s mayor released a statement saying that the suspect shot one individual at the Toyota service center before being suspect being shot and subdued by police. He thanked police and firefighters for their work responding to 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,” said Mayor Jesse Arreguín. “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.”
The officer-involved shooting remains under investigation. Police said additional information would be provided as it becomes available.