Oshiana Tompkins, a 19-year-old from Vallejo/Hercules, California, tragically lost her life on October 31, 2019, during a mass shooting at a Halloween party in Orinda, California. The party, which was advertised on social media as an "Airbnb Mansion Party," was held at a rented home in the affluent suburb of Orinda. The event attracted over 100 attendees, primarily college students.
The party turned chaotic when gunfire erupted, resulting in a highly chaotic scene with numerous people fleeing and several injured.
The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office reported that Oshiana Tompkins was one of the five victims who died as a result of the shooting. Initially, three victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while a fourth succumbed to injuries at the hospital. Oshiana, who was hospitalized, later died from her injuries, making her the fifth fatality. The other victims were identified as Tiyon Farley, Omar Taylor, Ramon Hill Jr., and Javin County.
The investigation into the shooting revealed that the party was held at a property rented through Airbnb, which had previously received numerous complaints about large parties and noise disturbances. The property owners had been reminded of city regulations regarding short-term rentals. On the night of the shooting, neighbors reported the noise and the large number of attendees to the police, who were en route to the scene when the shooting occurred.
Despite the chaotic nature of the event and the presence of over 100 partygoers, no arrests have been made in connection with the shooting. The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office, along with the FBI, has been investigating the incident, analyzing two firearms found at the scene to determine if they were used in the shooting. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not yet identified any suspects or determined the motive behind the shooting.
Airbnb responded to the tragedy by removing the listing from their platform and banning the guest who rented the property. The company expressed their horror at the incident and pledged to cooperate with the investigation. The city of Orinda also indicated that it would revisit its regulations on short-term rentals in light of the shooting.
