Police in Oakland have arrested who they believe is the boss of one of the warring factions in a deadly illegal casino turf war in the area.
Wai “Weezy” Hoang is now in custody, facing parole violation charges. The 33-year-old entered a plea deal and got out of jail last year after stripping a gambling patron in 2022 and beating them at one of the illegal casinos he allegedly runs.
Hoang tried to evade police when they raided his residence, jumping over a fence and running away before his eventual apprehension.
at least four of the incidents taking place at suspected illegal gambling dens
Law enforcement has linked 18 shootings to the ongoing feud, with at least four of the incidents taking place at suspected illegal gambling dens.
While nobody died, five people have suffered injuries. The uptick in violence led to a major crackdown in Oakland and the raid of several properties earlier this month, resulting in nine arrests, as well as the seizure of more than a dozen firearms and illegal gambling machines.