Shooters Open Fire On Birthday Party Bus Killing Two People On Bay Area Freeway

A fun night out on a party bus turned tragic early Tuesday after unidentified shooters opened fire on a group of women on a San Francisco Bay Area freeway.

The bus was reportedly attacked shortly after midnight 12:20 a.m. on the 580 Freeway, as the group was returning to Oakland after a late-night birthday celebration in San Francisco, the East Bay Times reported.

Authorities said that an unidentified shooter or group of shooters in another car tailed the party bus and proceeded to open fire on the vehicle as it was eastbound on the I-580 in Oakland at the Seminary Avenue off-ramp. The shooters continued following the bus and fired a few more shots before exiting the freeway near 68th Avenue and Foothill Boulevard.

Approximately 70 rounds of bullets were fired at the bus, said law enforcement.

The bus was carrying a group of young people celebrating a girl’s 21st birthday. The celebrant's father confirmed that the girl was shot in the leg but is in stable condition.

One woman reportedly died on the scene as another woman succumbed to her fatal injuries in a nearby hospital. Also rushed to the hospital were six other women and teen girls. One woman in the group is still being treated for serious injuries in intensive care.

Authorities have identified one of the slain victims as Alayasia Thurston, a 19-year-old Oakland native, the Bay Area News Group reported.

“It was a whole bunch of young women trying to enjoy themselves,” the victim’s stepmother told NBC Bay Area. “And someone took her life.”

The other person killed was 16-year-old Zoey Hughes, of Modesto, The Modesto Bee reported.

“I just fell to my knees; I couldn’t feel my legs, I couldn’t feel my feet,” Christina Hughes, the girl’s mother said.

“Based on preliminary investigation, it does not appear this shooting was a random event,” said California Highway Patrol in a statement. They are investigating the incident in cooperation with the Oakland Police Department.

Last month, a similar incident happened with a 25-year-old woman shot while riding a party bus in Oakland. The bus, which was heading to San Francisco, was occupied by more than 30 passengers. Luckily, everyone else on the bus survived without injuries, confirmed authorities.

Investigators are currently asking the public’s help in identifying the suspects and the suspected vehicle.

The Oakland Police Department and Crime Stoppers of Oakland have offered a reward of up to $40,000 for any information that can lead to an arrest in the case. Anyone who has any information regarding the attack is asked to call the CHP investigative tip line at 707-917-4491 or Crime Stoppers at 510-777-8572.