The monthly event attracts thousands for a night of art exhibits, food trucks, and music. On Friday night, a half hour after the event ended, so did a young man's life.
Lilies have been placed on the spot where 18-year-old Kiante Campbell of Oakland was shot to death.
"People running one way and then cops running the opposite way," Andee Brown said. Brown is the manager of Flora Restaurant on Telegraph, just one block from where the shooting took place.
Police say shots were fired after a confrontation between two groups broke out. A 17-year-old boy and two women were also wounded. All are expected to survive.
Brown says the event on Telegraph Avenue attracts more than 10,000 people with music and entertainment. It has never had this kind of problem before.
"I think that overall it's still a great event but it's always a busy night for us," Brown said. "We think is great for Oakland, but it does seem like it needs more organizational help, for safety."
First Friday began as an event for Art Murmur, a showcase for local artists, and then morphed into a First Friday night festival. Daniel Schachta, who is a board member of Art Murmur, says his group and First Friday are going to try to make some changes.
"Our hearts go out to the victims and were going to do what we can to address this as people who love Oakland and want to keep the positive energy going," Schacht said.
Some residents and business owners wonder if this shooting could end First Fridays.
Mark Sheff manages Fauna on Telegraph, "That once a month spike in our business is really wonderful and helpful for us, but of course we would survive without it."
We tried to reach Mayor Jean Quan and representatives of First Friday to find out the future of the festival, but they have not returned our calls.
A $25,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest in this case.
