OAKLAND — The Oakland Police Department is seeking suspects in the fatal shooting of Aya Nakano, who would have turned 23 years old on Thursday.
On Wednesday at approximately 10:57 p.m., officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 5800 block of Market Street. Additionally, Shotspotter Technology confirmed one gunshot activation from the area of 58th Street and Market.
When officers arrived on scene, they discovered a male Asian victim, whom investigators identified as Nakano, suffering from a fatal gunshot wound. Nakano, who was returning home from a pick-up basketball game at UC Berkeley, was a resident of Emeryville.
Investigators have determined that prior to the shooting, the victim’s Jeep Cherokee was apparently rear-ended by another vehicle in the area of Stanford Avenue and Market. The victim pulled his vehicle over to the curb, facing southbound in the 5800 block of Market. The suspect vehicle, described as a newer, silver four-door sedan with two occupants, also pulled over to the curb.
A confrontation took place between the victim and the suspects. The victim was fatally shot.
“He did the right thing,” said OPD spokesperson Officer Johnna Watson said. “He was involved in a collision, and he pulled over … This is a good young man doing all the right things, and unfortunately, he was shot and killed. What the reasons were, we’re still trying to figure that out.”
Information obtained at the scene described the suspect vehicle fleeing southbound on Market after the shooting.
Investigators are distributing Nakano’s photo and requesting help from anyone who may have: seen the victim in the area of Stanford and Market on the night of the shooting (June 12) prior to 11 p.m.; witnessed the vehicle accident; witnessed the confrontation between the victim and suspects; witnessed the shooting; or seen the suspect vehicle fleeing the scene after the shooting.
The suspect vehicle may have front-end damage.
Oakland Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest in this case. Anyone with information is asked to contact the OPD Homicide Division, (510) 238-3821. Call Crime Stoppers of Oakland at (510) 777-8572 or the Tip Line at 773-2850.
Nixle Tip Watch allows tipsters to send OPD a tip three ways: 1. Text TIP OAKLANDPD to 888777 from your cell phone 2. Call the toll-free tip hotline at 855-TIPS-247 (855-847-7247) 3. Respond to OPD’s Nixle messages.
Nakano’s family is offering a $5,000 for information leading to the killers.
Nakano graduated from Sacred Heart Preparatory in 2008 and from the University of Oregon in 2012, majoring in sociology and minoring in communication studies. His Facebook page features a photo of him with Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch.
His uncle, Troy Aquino, told reporters, “He was enjoying himself. He was happy to have a job, happy to be home in the Bay Area. He was just a happy guy. He’s always been quiet, always been friendly. His parents always joked around with him — ‘Don’t be a hero. Whenever there’s trouble, just stay away from it.’”