Bernard Meshawn Beard, a 22-year-old resident of Oakland, was fatally shot on January 12, 2017. The incident occurred in a neighborhood with high levels of violence, which had seen multiple homicides around that time. Beard's death became part of Oakland's first reported homicides of 2017. Despite efforts by local law enforcement, the investigation did not lead to any immediate arrests or suspects, leaving his case unsolved. Beard’s death was part of a troubling wave of violence in Oakland, where dozens of homicides occurred throughout the year.
