Week in Review: Mother Gunned Down in Front of 4-Year-Old Son; Local High School Among Nation's Best

SAN LEANDRO

Mother Gunned Down in Front of 4-Year-Old Son

A woman who was fatally shot in front of her young son in North Oakland on Wednesday night has been identified as a 21-year-old San Leandro resident, according to Oakland police. Donitra Henderson was shot near the corner of 54th Street and Shattuck Avenue around 8:40 p.m. She was pronounced dead at the scene. According to Oakland police Chief Howard Jordan, her 4-year-old son, Joshua, witnessed the shooting.

In a separate article, Jordan describes how he comforted the 4-year-old in the wake of his mother's tragic death.

$30 Million Affordable Housing Project Near BART Up For Review

A proposal to build 200-units of affordable rental housing west of the downtown BART Station comes up for review before the City Council next week. On Monday, May 6 at 7 p.m., city staff and representatives from nonprofit housing developer BRIDGE Housing Corporation (BRIDGE) will present an update on the proposed Cornerstone building. The building would contain 200-units of affordable rental units.

San Leandro Involved In Oakland-Centered Drug & Gun Bust

FBI and local law enforcement agencies served 16 high-risk weapons and narcotics search warrants Wednesday night. The operation involved over 120 Oakland police officers, 150 FBI agents from all over the country plus the San Leandro, Hayward and Antioch police departments. On Wednesday just after 8:00 pm, these authorities served 13 warrants in the Acorn neighborhood of West Oakland and 3 additional warrants in Hayward, San Leandro and Antioch. Five arrests were made, four firearms were seized and an abundant amount of drugs were recovered. 

CASTRO VALLEY

Castro Valley High Ranked Among Nation's Best High Schools

Castro Valley High School is among the best high schools in the country, according to rankings released Tuesday. With a national ranking of 993 and a state ranking of 209, CVHS was one of 1,790 schools nationwide awarded a silver medal by U.S. News and World Report in its 2013 list of the nation's best public high schools. The rankings were calculated by looking at student performance on standardized tests, evaluating how well schools educated black, Hispanic and poor students, and by how effectively they prepared graduates for college.

Two Juveniles Injured After Being Struck by Car

Two male juveniles suffered minor injuries when they were hit by a vehicle in Castro Valley late Thursday morning, according to the California Highway Patrol. The CHP responded to the intersection of Castro Valley Boulevard and Park Way at 11:20 a.m. CHP Officer Eric Morales said the driver of a black Ford Crown Victoria was at a stop sign preparing to turn right from Park Way onto Castro Valley Boulevard when the car struck the boys, who were in a crosswalk. One victim was released to his parents while the other was taken to Eden Medical Center, Morales said.

Food Trucks Coming To Castro Valley Starting May 18

The food trucks are coming! Starting May 18th, four food trucks will join the attractions at the Saturday Farmer's Market at Castro Valley BART Station, according to Bob Swanson, local representative for Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley. The trucks will be a regular feature of the Farmers Market that will run this year from May 18th through October 26th -- with new hours, from 10 am to 2 pm. Swanson said Miley worked with the Urban Village Farmers Market Association to bring this about. Meanwhile, local business people and civic leaders including Steve Ontiveros and Heather Mellon continue to work on separate plans to bring food trucks to town.