On the evening of January 10, 2025, 19-year-old Black male Kelin J. Sissoko from Richmond, California, was fatally shot outside a community event center in Oakland. He and 20-year-old Kamel Carpenter of Berkeley had just arrived at a party on the 500 block of 55th Street when multiple gunmen opened fire around 10 p.m., before the victims could enter the venue. A third individual, a 29-year-old man from San Pablo, was also struck by gunfire but survived.
Authorities are investigating whether the shooting was connected to ongoing rivalries between groups in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. A firearm was recovered at the scene, but it remains unclear if it was used in the shooting. As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the deaths of 19-year-old Black male Kelin J. Sissoko and 20-year-old Kamel Carpenter.
Kelin J. Sissoko's death is part of a troubling pattern of gun violence in Oakland, which saw a spike in homicides at the start of 2025. Despite a reported 34% decrease in homicides in 2024, the city experienced four homicides since New Year's Eve, highlighting ongoing concerns about community safety.
Previously, on June 18, 2023, 19-year-old Black male Kelin J. Sissoko was arrested in Contra Costa County for carrying a loaded firearm in public, carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle, and possessing a loaded firearm not registered to him. This arrest was made by the Contra Costa CHP.
The investigation into the deaths of 19-year-old Black male Kelin J. Sissoko and 20-year-old Kamel Carpenter remains active. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward to assist in bringing those responsible to justice.
