California Parole Agent Fatally Shot in Oakland; Suspect Arrested After Manhunt

A California parole agent was fatally shot on Thursday, July 17, 2025, in Oakland, triggering a swift and extensive law enforcement response that culminated in the arrest of a suspect after an hours-long manhunt.
The victim has been identified as 40-year-old Joshua Lemont Byrd, a dedicated parole agent with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). The suspect, 48-year-old Bryan Keith Hall, a recently paroled individual with a history of violent crime, was taken into custody.
The incident occurred shortly before 12:50 p.m. at the CDCR’s Division of Adult Parole Operations (DAPO) office located at 7717 Edgewater Drive, near the intersection with Pardee Lane in East Oakland. This facility serves as a critical reentry site where recently released individuals report for supervision, drug testing, and case management.
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), which is leading the investigation, Oakland police received a 9-1-1 call reporting a shooting inside the parole office. Responding officers found Agent Byrd suffering from a gunshot wound. Due to the critical nature of his injuries, officers immediately transported him in a police vehicle to Highland Hospital, approximately six miles away. Despite emergency efforts, Agent Byrd succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
Following the shooting, the suspect fled the scene, prompting a multi-agency manhunt involving the CHP, Oakland Police Department, and other local law enforcement agencies. Bryan Keith Hall was located and detained near 90th Avenue and International Boulevard, about four miles from the crime scene, without further incident. Witnesses reported a tense atmosphere as heavily armed officers, including SWAT teams, searched the area, with some noting the use of flash bangs during the apprehension.
Police established a command post at the parole office and cordoned off Edgewater Drive for several hours as the investigation began. Authorities are reviewing surveillance footage, collecting forensic evidence, and interviewing witnesses to piece together the events leading up to the shooting. The motive and any prior interactions between the suspect and Agent Byrd have not been disclosed, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Governor Gavin Newsom and Acting Governor Eleni Kounalakis issued a joint statement expressing profound grief over Agent Byrd’s death: “This is a heartbreaking loss. Agent Byrd served with integrity and courage — and we’re forever grateful. We are keeping his family in our prayers and we join the men and women of CDCR in mourning this tragedy.” In honor of Agent Byrd, flags at the State Capitol and Capitol Annex Swing Space have been ordered to fly at half-staff.
Agent Byrd began his career with CDCR in June 2014 as a cadet at the correctional officer academy. He served as a correctional officer at the California Medical Facility, where he was promoted to correctional sergeant in 2020, before transitioning to a parole agent role in the DAPO Oakland office in October 2024. He leaves behind a wife and three children. This tragedy marks the first line-of-duty death for CDCR since 2018.
Bryan Keith Hall, the suspect, was recently released on parole and had a prior felony conviction for assault with a deadly weapon, stemming from an incident in which he stabbed a man in the neck, prosecuted by the Oakland Police Department and the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office. His familiarity with the parole office and its procedures, combined with his criminal history, has raised concerns among investigators.
On Thursday evening, a solemn law enforcement procession accompanied Agent Byrd’s body from Highland Hospital to the Alameda County Coroner’s Office. Family members gathered at the hospital, visibly emotional as they supported one another. Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee released a statement expressing the city’s sorrow: “The City of Oakland is heartbroken at the loss of one of our fellow public servants, and we stand by their family and all of their colleagues at the state parole service.”
CDCR issued a statement expressing their deep sadness: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic and senseless loss of Parole Agent Joshua Byrd, whose bravery and dedication led to his tragic death in the line of duty.” The agency also shared a tribute video on social media to honor his service.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact CHP investigators or the Oakland Police Department. The investigation continues as authorities work to uncover the full circumstances of this tragic event.