The shooting occurred in the 2900 block of Chestnut Street around 4:45 p.m. Monday. Chyemil was on her way home after picking up her children from school. Her two children who were with her at the time of her death were 7 and 9 and attended the Vincent Academy charter school.
“My heart is burning for the loss of the life of a young mother and for her children, who will grow up without their mother,” Gibson McElhaney said.
The councilwoman said she’s been told that the shooting erupted after a group of young women began fighting on the street where young men joined the fray and opened fire.
Oakland police said two other people were injured in the gunfight, but both were in stable condition.
This tragedy has illustrates the need for tighter gun control laws to try to limit youths’ access to guns, according to McElhaney.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Pierce worked as a human resource specialist at Kaiser Permanente.
Kaiser Permanente officials said in a statement, “We were saddened to learn about the death of one of our employees, Chyemil Pierce.”
The statement said, “Our hearts go out to her friends and family in the wake of this terrible tragedy. We are providing grief counselors and other support services to our employees during this difficult time.”
No one has been arrested for the shooting.
