Couple Found Fatally Shot Outside Oakland Hills Home Near UC Berkeley; Investigation Ongoing

Oakland and Berkeley police responded on the morning of Oct. 2 after a 61-year-old man and a 63-year-old woman were found fatally shot outside a residence in the Oakland Hills, a neighborhood bordering the University of California, Berkeley campus.

Oakland Police Department Assistant Chief Casey Johnson told reporters the call came in at about 10:45 a.m. local time. First responders attempted lifesaving measures at the scene, but both victims died of their injuries.

Investigators recovered a firearm near the location and emphasized there is no ongoing threat to the community. Authorities said they have not ruled out homicide or a murder-suicide; the investigation remains active.

Oakland Police vehicle (stock image)Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty

Officials described the two victims as appearing to be married. Their identities are being withheld pending notification of next of kin, though Johnson confirmed both were residents of the neighborhood.

Public records link the property to clothing designers Bryan and Michelle Walker, who operate the Bryn Walker label and have stores in Berkeley and Massachusetts, according to reporting by CBS News. Police have not publicly confirmed a connection between the homeowners and the victims.

Neighbor Alessandro Isolani told CBS News, "We heard two bangs, not too far apart — one louder, the other more muffled. It's shocking. I've lived up here on Panoramic Hill for more than 20 years, and I have never seen violent crime up here."

The Oakland and Berkeley police departments did not immediately respond to requests from PEOPLE for further comment. Detectives are continuing their work to determine the full circumstances surrounding the deaths.