Police investigate fatal shooting at shelter in northwest Berkeley

Berkeley police are investigating the city's fourth homicide of 2024 following a fatal shooting Sunday night in northwest Berkeley.

Shortly before 5:30 p.m., officers went to the Ursula Sherman Village emergency shelter, also known as the Harrison House, near the corner of Harrison and Fourth streets to investigate a report of a shooting there, Berkeley police spokeswoman Officer Jessica Perry said in an email.

When officers and Berkeley Fire Department personnel arrived, they found a shooting victim “and began rescue efforts,” Perry said. “Unfortunately, despite receiving medical attention, the victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.”

Police did not initially release any further details about the victim. Authorities were still on site at around 8 p.m. and were investigating, Perry said.

Not only is this the fourth murder in the city – the third by firearm – but it is also the second shooting at the animal shelter this year.

On January 7, police and firefighters responded to the shelter shortly before 6 a.m. to investigate a shooting there. Officers administered first aid at the scene until paramedics were able to transport the victim, who had been shot multiple times in the legs but survived, to a local hospital.

As of Sunday, other than the crime scene, no information was available on whether there was a connection between the January shooting and Sunday's killing.

Sunday's killing came nine days after the city's most recent murder, which occurred Aug. 16 in the 3200 block of Adeline Street in South Berkeley.