On Thursday night, a tense situation escalated when security personnel opened fire on a U-Haul truck that was backing up to the entrance of Coast Guard Island. This incident occurred amidst protests against the anticipated arrival of federal immigration agents. Following the shooting, two men were transported to hospitals with gunshot wounds, as confirmed by local authorities.
One of the individuals is believed to be the driver of the U-Haul truck, while the identity of the second person remains unclear. The shooting transpired around 10 p.m. on the bridge leading to the island, with the entire event captured by camera crews from KTVU and KPIX.
In the footage, the rental truck can be seen reversing on the bridge, where armed security personnel had blocked the road with their guns drawn, reportedly yelling orders at the vehicle's driver. The protesters, positioned several hundred feet away, appeared to be distant from the unfolding drama. Suddenly, the security personnel opened fire, discharging their weapons numerous times at the truck.
As the vehicle sped away from the barricade and back toward the protesters and the media, it eventually came to a stop at the intersection of Embarcadero and Dennison Street. A video recorded during the incident shows the driver looking down for over 30 seconds before shifting the vehicle into gear and driving away.
Law enforcement officials later located the U-Haul truck, although the authorities did not disclose its exact location. A statement from the Coast Guard released early Friday indicated that law enforcement officers fired “several” times at the U-Haul after it “posed a direct threat to the safety of Coast Guard and security personnel.” The statement emphasized that multiple verbal commands were issued to stop the vehicle prior to the shooting.
Fortunately, no Coast Guard personnel were injured during this incident. The FBI is currently leading the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The East Oakland entrance to the military installation, which serves as the only vehicular access to the island, was the focal point of protests on Thursday. Demonstrators had gathered as federal agents arrived in the Bay Area as part of a new phase in President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. Early in the day, agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection confronted a crowd of protesters at the island's entrance, reportedly using a chemical agent on at least one protester and forcing their way through the crowd with vehicles.
These federal agents’ actions coincided with Trump's announcement that he would be canceling a planned “surge” in San Francisco, previously expected to deploy more than 100 federal personnel. The future intentions of federal officials to target other areas in the region remain uncertain.
In the moments following the gunfire, authorities secured the bridge area, designating it a crime scene under investigation. Fewer than a dozen protesters remained in the vicinity, gathered behind a line of caution tape. Nearby, a small fire burned in a trash can filled with protest materials discarded by demonstrators who had left after the shooting.
Jennifer Martinez, a protester present at the scene, recounted seeing the U-Haul parked near the protests earlier in the day. She described the truck's sudden approach toward the bridge just before 10 p.m., stating, “(The truck) just kind of came out of nowhere, backing up into the barrier.” She recalled the crowd urging the driver to stop, with demonstrators seen in a video shouting, “Bring the U-Haul back!” just before the authorities opened fire.
This is a developing story. For ongoing updates, please check back with us regularly.
For further inquiries, contact Jakob Rodgers, our senior breaking news reporter, at 510-390-2351 or via email at jrodgers@bayareanewsgroup.com.
