Mack Jody Woodfox III, a 27-year-old resident of Oakland, was shot and killed in a police-involved shooting on July 5, 2008, near East 17th Street and Fruitvale Avenue in the Fruitvale District. Officer Hector Jimenez fired multiple shots, striking Woodfox in the back after a brief vehicle pursuit and after Woodfox exited his car and ran. Police said Jimenez believed Woodfox was reaching for his waistband; no weapon was recovered on Woodfox.

Woodfox’s family, represented by attorney John Burris, announced plans to file a claim against the city and called for criminal charges, while seeking FBI and U.S. Attorney investigations into possible civil rights violations. The Oakland Police Department and the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office opened investigations into whether Officer Jimenez’s actions complied with department policy. Jimenez had been involved in a previous fatal shooting on New Year’s Eve 2007 in which another unarmed man was killed, a fact that contributed to public controversy.

Does anyone have information about Woodfox that could clarify the moments before he exited his vehicle or about witnesses who were at East 17th Street and Fruitvale Avenue that night?