A fatal shooting near the Occupy Oakland site Thursday night has sparked a new call from city leaders to clear out the protesters.
The shooting, which apparently stemmed from a fight between two groups of people, did not appear to be related to the protest or campers at the site, Oakland Police Sgt. Christopher Bolton told The Times. No arrests have been made in the shooting.
But the incident prompted several top city leaders to call for protesters to leave the camp.
"This camp is attracting an element that's adding to the problem that already exists," said City Council President Larry Reid told the San Francisco Chronicle.
Mayor Jean Quan agreed.
"Tonight's incident underscores the reason why the encampment must end. The risks are too great," Quan said in a statement. "Camping is a tactic, not a solution."
The encampment, she said, has drained the financially strained city as it has been forced to pay for police protection and other services to deal with the protesters.
In recent days, Quan has come under criticism by City Council members and business owners who say she has failed to show leadership in dealing with Occupy Oakland.
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— Lee Romney in Oakland and Robert J. Lopez in Los Angeles
Photo: An Occupy Oakland medic, wearing red, and others tend to a shooting victim near the encampment. Credit: Jane Tyska / Associated Press
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