Oakland, Calif. – A celebratory night turned perilous for Amanda Raye, an Oakland resident, when she was unexpectedly assaulted by a group of young people early Saturday morning. The attack occurred just blocks from her home, as she returned from a local bar where she had been watching a Dodgers game.
Raye, who suffered a concussion, multiple lacerations, and other injuries, recounted the horrifying moments she faced around 1 a.m. near 17th and Franklin Streets. “I was suddenly hit on the head and then repeatedly kicked and beaten by several individuals,” Raye shared from her home, where she is currently recuperating.
The assault did not appear to be a robbery, as the attackers made no attempt to steal from her. “It seemed driven by sheer malice,” Raye said, recalling the derogatory remarks hurled at her during the assault, which some of the assailants documented on their phones.
Surveillance footage partially captured the brutal scene, showing Raye being surrounded and beaten on the pavement. Amidst the chaos, one attacker briefly assisted her in retrieving her damaged phone, while another eventually intervened to cease the assault.
Promptly after the attack, the group fled to a waiting vehicle. Raye noted that the driver even attempted to run her over as they escaped. Local emergency services responded to the scene around 1:30 a.m., transporting Raye to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The police have launched an investigation into the incident, which has been placed as the 15th in line due to the prevalence of similar cases in the area. An Oakland Police Department investigator discussed the queuing system with Raye during a follow-up meeting.
The lack of immediate help during the attack added to Raye’s trauma. “I tried to flag down passing vehicles for help, but they just honked and drove past,” she lamented. Eventually, a young couple stopped to assist her.
This experience has profoundly shaken Raye, prompting her to reconsider her safety in the neighborhood. “I’ve lived here for a year now, moving from Southern California, and I no longer feel safe. I’m ready to leave the Bay Area,” she expressed, adding that she has since acquired a Taser for self-defense.
Furthermore, Raye hopes sharing her ordeal will spark a broader conversation about public safety and community responsibility. “I want parents to be aware of their children’s actions, and I want the community to realize we must protect each other to prevent such violence,” she stated.
The community and local authorities are urged to remain vigilant and to foster a safer environment to deter similar incidents, reinforcing the need for immediate action and awareness to curb the rising tide of unprovoked street violence in Oakland.