Man Charged With Attempted Murder After Shootout With Police In East Bay: DA

OAKLAND, CA — A 45-year-old man was charged with attempted murder following two shootings in Oakland, including one in which he's accused of exchanging gunfire with officers and setting a home on fire, prosecutors said.

Aleem Spencer was charged with two counts of attempted murder, assault on an officer, assault with a firearm and arson in connection with two separate events across August, according to the Alameda County District Attorney's Office.

Spencer is suspected in a shooting on Aug. 1 in the 600 block of 34th Street. There, officers found a victim with gunshot wounds to the abdomen, back and arm, prosecutors said.

It appears the victim survived, given the attempted murder charge, but police did not provide further information on that incident.

Weeks later, on Aug. 30, Spencer was at Manzanita Park in Oakland when threaten to kill a woman with a hammer, prosecutors said.

As officers arrived at the scene, Spencer immediately fired at them, prompting the officers to shoot back, authorities said.

The gunfire didn't hit anyone, authorities said, and officers moved the woman to safety.

SWAT was called to the scene, along with the department's Unmanned Aerial Vehicle to offer aerial support as law enforcement set up a perimeter around where they believed the suspect ran to, authorities said.

Community members helped point out the suspect, telling officers he was inside an abandoned home in the 2600 block of 22nd Avenue, police said.

Hours after the initial call, Spencer began throwing flammable cans he had lit on fire towards officers and then set the home he was in ablaze, police said.

Officers countered with gas to lure Spencer out and they eventually took him into custody in connection with the incident, authorities said.

Spencer was then taken to a local hospital for evaluation while the Oakland Fire Department extinguished the fire, authorities said.

Spencer is due back in court Wednesday for arraignment.