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Police Rescue Shooting Victim At Marina Shore

By DAVID SCHARFENBERG
Tuesday July 01, 2003

A gun shot victim hoisted from a rocky embankment at the Berkeley Marina early Monday morning was in critical condition at Oakland’s Highland Hospital Monday afternoon, authorities said. 

Berkeley Police Department spokesperson Kevin Schofield said police, responding to a 2:40 a.m. report of gunshots in the area, found a male victim who was “conscious but non-responsive” near the marina’s public boat launch. 

Schofield said the department is treating the incident as a felony assault at present, but has not ruled out attempted murder. Police are not releasing the name of the victim and did not have any suspects in custody at press time. 

Authorities found the victim half-in and half-out of the water at the bottom of a rocky embankment in the northern section of the marina, according to Deputy Fire Chief David Orth. 

The fire department, called in by the police, used ropes to shimmy down the slippery rock face and pull the victim to safety, Orth said. 

The incident came just two months after a pair of dog walkers found the bodies of high-profile murder victim Laci Peterson and her unborn son just two miles north, on the Richmond shoreline. 

Workers at the Berkeley Marina said they were unfazed by the Monday shooting. 

“It doesn’t matter to me, unless they come in my area,” said Chris Starrett, owner of the Starrett Stainless metal shop at the Marina. “Then I’ll shoot back.” 

Starrett said the area around the public launch, in the northern section of the Marina, is usually quiet, except for the occasional car break-in. 

Police are asking anyone with information on the shooting to call the homicide detail at 510-981-5742. Callers may remain anonymous.