FBI UCR Homicide Data — 109 recorded incidents
Oakland has one of the highest homicide rates of any city in California, driven by violence in neighborhoods like East Oakland, West Oakland, and Fruitvale where decades of economic disinvestment, racial segregation, and the aftermath of the state's prison release policies have created persistent cycles of lethal conflict. The city's geographic position — between San Francisco and the methamphetamine-producing regions of the Central Valley — has made it a key distribution hub for narcotics, contributing to gang-related homicides. Oakland gained national notoriety with the 2023 shooting death of 15-year-old hockey prodigy Johnny Bingam Jr. by a 14-year-old at a community celebration, a case that highlighted the city's ongoing struggle with youth firearm violence. FBI UCR data powers The Murder Channel's Oakland homicide tracker.
Oakland, California has recorded 109 homicides over the tracked period, with 133 victims identified.. The city ranks #20 among 339 U.S. cities tracked by the FBI, with a clearance rate of 17% — meaning an arrest or suspect identification was made in 18 of those incidents.
Firearms — predominantly firearm - handguns — account for 45% of homicides with weapon data, followed by firearm - type unknown, knife/cutting instrument. The highest single month on record was April 2022, with 12 homicides.
Oakland's homicide rate is near the average for tracked U.S. cities, based on FBI UCR data. 54 cases remain under investigation. The primary reporting agency was Albany Police Department, which filed 88 incident reports. See also our California state homicide data page for broader context. The Oakland metropolitan area continues to be monitored as part of the national homicide tracking effort.