Uber driver ambushed, fatally shot while getting ready for work in Oakland, girlfriend says
OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- An Uber driver was shot and killed during an attempted robbery in Oakland Sunday morning, according to police.
Oakland's Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong held a press conference Monday to address this past weekend's violence which included three homicides, including the killing of 52-year-old Kon Fung.
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Flowers were left on the sidewalk in the 2000 block of 13th Avenue where he was parked on Sunday morning when two men ambushed him.
"We believe that this was a robbery. We don't know initially what the underlying circumstances may have been, but we know that Mr. Fung was working in the area," said Chief Armstrong.
ABC7 News spoke to Fung's girlfriend and her son who confirmed he was an Uber driver. Off camera, they said he was inside his vehicle getting ready to start driving.
A video that hasn't been released to the public shows two men walking up to Fung's door, opening it, words are exchanged and in less than five seconds Fung was shot and killed.
"People getting robbed at 3 a.m. or 3 p.m. it doesn't make a difference," said Oakland resident Anthony Smith.
Smith has lived in the area for 15 years and said the last two years have been the most violent.
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"This is ridiculous and I understand that they are understaffed, but still that is no excuse for the violence that is going on here," said Smith.
Chief Armstrong said "Beat 19" several blocks from where Sunday's homicide took place is now considered one the most violent areas in the city.
"Beat 19" is categorized as the area from 2nd to 14th Avenue along International Boulevard and East 12th Street.
Community members are asking city council members and OPD to increase resources.
"Last year we had the defunding of the police so resources were diminished. I don't want to sugarcoat anything about politics. It has a lot to do with politics," said Smith.
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"As the councilmember representing this district we hear you, we are working with you and continue to partner with you," said Oakland City Councilmember Nikki Fortunato Bas.
Chief Armstrong said the majority of crimes are being executed by one percent of the population. That's nearly 4,500 people. He said there's no indication Sunday's homicide was targeted.
"We will shift resources again to address violence in Beat 19, but the question is are we displacing violence moving it from one place to another," said Chief Armstrong.
Fung's death marked the 63rd homicide in Oakland this year and the 64th happened less than 24 hours after his death.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the OPD's homicide section at (510) 238-3821 or the tip line at (510) 238-7950.
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