A shooting at Pierre Pierre, an upscale restaurant in downtown Oakland, has left two people injured and prompted the owners to announce plans to relocate the business to a safer location. The incident, which occurred on Friday, May 2, 2025, has sparked discussions about business safety in Oakland, particularly for Black-owned establishments.
On Friday evening, around 8:30 p.m., gunfire erupted inside Pierre Pierre, located in Oakland’s landmark Tribune Tower. Oakland Police responded to multiple reports of shots fired, with witnesses describing a chaotic scene. According to police reports, customers heard gunshots, prompting them to drop to the ground before rushing for the exits, uncertain of the shooter’s location. The restaurant, a bustling upscale steakhouse, was reportedly full then.
Two individuals—a man and a woman—were injured in the shooting and are currently in stable condition. Chef Cleashaun Hill, co-owner of Pierre Pierre, shared a distressing video on Instagram showing the aftermath: blood splattered on the floor, shattered dishes strewn about, and police lights flashing through the windows. By Saturday, two bullet holes marred the restaurant’s exterior.
The Oakland Police Department is actively investigating the incident, but no details about the shooter or motive have been released. In the wake of the shooting, Chef Hill expressed frustration and disappointment in his social media video, at one point saying,
“Thank you. Thank you. I give up,”
as he showcased the damage. Despite this initial despair, the owners have since resolved to continue their venture elsewhere.
Pierre Pierre, which opened its doors in December 2023, is co-owned by Chef Cleashaun Hill, known as “Chef Cleaz,” and Florida rapper Pierre Delince, better known as Jackboy. Hill, a San Francisco native trained at Le Cordon Bleu, has an impressive resume, serving as a private chef and caterer for San Francisco 49ers players and celebrity musicians.
Billed as “the only Black-owned fine-dining restaurant” in the area, the restaurant was envisioned as “a beacon of Black excellence.” Hill deliberately chose the Tribune Tower for its iconic status, noting in a 2023 interview with the San Francisco Business Times that it was “the most iconic building in Oakland.”
A post from X.
Beyond its culinary offerings, Pierre Pierre aimed to be a cultural cornerstone. In a GoFundMe appeal launched after the shooting, Hill described it as “a sanctuary for Black excellence,” adding,
“In a city where gentrification, violence, and systemic inequities often silence us, Pierre Pierre stood as a voice—bold, elegant, unapologetically Black.”
However, the restaurant’s upscale pricing—meals reportedly averaging $175—drew some criticism on social media, with detractors questioning its accessibility to the community it sought to represent.
The shooting forced Pierre Pierre’s temporary closure, and the owners quickly decided to relocate to “a safer environment where guests and staff can feel protected and free.” To support this transition, Hill initiated a GoFundMe campaign with a $16,000 goal, intended to rebuild the restaurant, aid the injured victims’ families, and assist staff during the closure.
The incident has underscored persistent safety challenges in downtown Oakland. Pashupati Kandel, owner of Biryani Kabab across the street, was unsurprised by the relocation decision, calling the local business climate “very hard.” Having operated in the area for nine years, Kandel cited frequent crimes with minimal city response. Though he too wishes to move, financial constraints keep him rooted in place.
The Oakland Police Officers Association capitalized on the event to urge incoming Mayor Barbara Lee to bolster support. Union President Huy Nguyen stated,
“The Oakland Police Officers Association is doing everything in its power to protect the public, but Oakland is outmanned, outgunned, and overwhelmed by criminal activity.”
He pressed for
“a commitment from the new mayor and council to provide more police officers now to stem the tide of violence and crime and help turn Oakland around.”
On social media, the shooting ignited debates about violence plaguing Black-owned businesses and the viability of upscale ventures in high-crime areas. While some questioned Pierre’s sustainability, others rallied behind Hill and Jackboy’s vision.
As the city anticipates new leadership under Mayor Barbara Lee, the incident has amplified demands for addressing public safety issues affecting residents and entrepreneurs alike. While the future location of Pierre Pierre remains uncertain, the owners’ choice to relocate rather than shutter permanently reflects their enduring dedication to their mission.
