Multiple Gun Shots on 4th of July Brought Down Power Line That Killed Man in Oakland

Multiple gunshots brought down power lines in East Oakland during Fourth of July festivities Friday night that killed one man and seriously injured another, a PG&E spokeswoman said.

A preliminary investigation by PG&E found that "multiple bullets hit and damaged the power line" that came down in the 1900 block of 89th Avenue at about 11:35 p.m. Friday, PG&E spokeswoman Tamar Sarkissian said.

Police found the lines down between two unresponsive men who were both taken to a hospital.

Jermaine Tarver, 19, of Oakland was pronounced dead shortly afterward. Tresylian Redd, 23, of Oakland survived the shock, police said.

PG&E turned off power to the surrounding area to make repairs to the downed line, police said.

Police said there were extra patrols to quell illegal fireworks and celebratory gunfire on the Fourth of July holiday, but renegade firework displays still boomed throughout the city.

There were 114 arrests for fireworks in Oakland on Friday night, police said Saturday, and numerous illegal fireworks were confiscated.

Despite the widespread use of illegal fireworks in Oakland on Friday, Sarkissian said there were no other reports of downed power lines that night.

—By Bay City News