Police have minimal leads regarding taco truck shooting

After more than two weeks of investigation police have learned little regarding the death of a 23-year-old man near a taco truck in the Fruitvale neighborhood of Oakland.

Wayl Aljunaidi, an Oakland resident, was shot at approximately 10:42 p.m. at 3326 Foothill Blvd. while walking home on Thursday, Oct. 15th. Police say the shooting was reported at 10:45 p.m. and arriving officers found Aljunaidi in a driveway between Mi Ranchito Market and Produce and Pupuseria Lupita, in front of the Tamales Mi Lupita taco truck.

The victim was taken to Highland Hospital where he later died of his injuries at 3:15 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 16th.

Oakland Police Officer Jason Andersen, who is currently heading the investigation, says he believes the shooting was a “robbery attempt gone bad.” 

According to Andersen the investigation is currently still open and the Oakland Police are following up on the few leads they have received. “Nothing substantial has come out yet but I feel good about it,” he said.

Albert R. Lazano, President of the Latino Advisory Committee on Crime, a nonprofit organization that works as a liaison between the Latino community and the Oakland Police, said often people are hesitant to come forward with information they have, “Some reasons for not reporting information is language [and] fear. Sometimes the community doesn’t know how to reach out to the police or they are afraid,” he said.

Oakland resident, Steve Kelleghan, agreed. “People are not going to talk to the cops, people won’t snitch. They’re afraid of what might happen to them if they get involved.”

The Oakland Police are unwilling to release any information they may have on suspects in an effort to protect the investigation. “We have descriptions of suspects who were at the scene but I'm not going to release any information I have on them,” Andersen said. 

Aljunaidi's death marks the city's 92nd homicide this year. Reports show that at the same time last year Oakland had suffered 107 homicides. 

This is not the first killing in Oakland to happen at a taco truck. Last year on Jan. 22nd Abel Martinez Mejia, a 41-year-old father of four, was shot at a taco truck on 85th St. and San Leandro Ave while buying lunch. Mejia’s death was also an attempted robbery. Soon after, on Feb. 28th, 24-year-old Brandon Quilice was shot while waiting to get food outside of a taco truck on 38th Avenue and Foothill Boulevard.

The shooting has not seemed to deter people from frequenting Oakland’s many taco trucks. “It’s too be expected,” said Kelleghan, “I’m not worried about it.”

Tamales Mi Lupita was recently featured on the Travel Channel as part of Anthony Bourdain’s show “No Reservations.” It had also been featured in an extensive review of taco trucks within the Fruitvale, “La Vida Taco,” written earlier this year by John Birdsall of the East Bay Express.

Police ask anyone with information regarding the crime to contact the Homicide Division of the Oakland Police Department at (510) 238-3821