News Update

Man dies after September shooting at Oakland school

One of six people hospitalized in a September shooting at an Oakland school died Thursday.

David Sakurai was a carpenter for Oakland Unified, and was working at Rudsdale High School on Sept. 28 when shooters fired more than 30 rounds in the school’s entrance. Police said the shooting was related to ongoing gang violence in the city, and that none of the six people who were shot were the shooters’ intended targets.

District officials identified the victim only by first name. ABC 7 news identified him as Sakurai.

In a statement Thursday, district officials said Sakurai worked for the district for 18 years, and was involved in several projects to “upgrade and beautify” campuses across the district. On the day of the shooting, Sakurai was installing new countertops.

Sakurai was well-known for his sense of humor and camaraderie, and his colleagues “never saw him upset about anything,” the statement said.

“Our community mourns the loss of an OUSD hero and will be forever grateful for David’s nearly two decades of service of our students, families staff and schools,” the district said.