OAKLAND, Calif. _ A shooting in which one federal security officer was killed and another critically wounded during protests Friday night in downtown Oakland was an act of domestic terrorism, according to federal authorities.
Department of Homeland Security officials said at a press conference Saturday that the two federal protective officers were targeted by an "assassin" outside the Ronald V. Deullums Federal Building.
Oakland police, who are investigating the deadly shooting along with the FBI, said Friday night that the shooting appeared to be unrelated to the protest over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. They had not changed that statement as of early Saturday afternoon, and federal authorities have not said what they believe motivated the killing in Oakland.
The shooting happened at the intersection of 12th and Jefferson streets outside the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building around 9:45 p.m. Friday, near a guard shelter at the entrance to the building's parking garage.
Authorities say someone fired multiple shots from a vehicle at the two contract security officers for the Federal Protective Service of the Department of Homeland Security.
Investigators have not said whether any arrests have been made in the shooting, nor have they released a description of any suspects or the vehicle that was involved. Federal authorities have not detailed what they believe motivated the shooting.
"When someone targets a police officer or a police station with an intention to do harm and intimidate, that is an act of domestic terrorism," said Ken Cuccinelli, acting deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
Neither of the security officers has been publicly identified.
Thousands of people attended the Oakland demonstration Friday night, which turned chaotic and violent as the night went on, as police fired tear gas and demonstrators smashed windows and looted stores.
