Help Ahmed & Bella Recover from Assault & Theft

Hi neighbors and community of Oakland,

I hate to have to ask this of my community, but on the night of April 20th at around 1am I had my car (Honda CRV 2014) stolen from me at gunpoint while I was doing DoorDash, which was my only source of income at this time.

I am just the latest victim of these 3 men, who have also been recorded on NextDoor robbing a convenience store in Berkeley, and I’m just the latest victim of the general wave of crime, theft, assault and carjacking that has been going on around Oakland. Unfortunately, I cannot afford to pay the police to get my car out of the tow yard, or for the repairs on the damage the thieves have done, as I was using my car to make deliveries. On top of it I am struggling with some hearing loss from my head injury I got during the attack and need to pay my health insurance copays for that.

(Hospital stay)

(NextDoor Post showing same group of people stealing in Berkeley)

(Public Announcement from OPD on increased carjackings)

On 24th and International St. in Oakland I was in the line for the drive-thru at Jack-in-the-Box, to pick up a DoorDash delivery order, when three armed assailants came at me, each with a gun pointed at me, through my half opened window, and demanded that I stepped out of the car. I was with my dog, Bella, but I got out. Once I was out, I didn’t see it but one of them must have hit Bella in the leg where she had surgery before to get her out of the car, because I heard her yelp. Later I saw her leg was injured and cut in the same place where she had her leg screwed together from a broken bone a year ago. The community graciously helped at that time with her surgery because she was hit by a hit-and-run driver.

I tried to go and help her and see what was going on, but they held me back, then one of them hit me over the head with a gun three times and my head started gushing blood. I managed to get to the door and let Bella out. They took my key from my pocket and took off with the car. There were a lot of people around and witnesses from nearby apartments but nobody called the police, so I called them.

I was really disappointed with the OPD handling of the incident and their handling of any crime that takes place in Oakland in general. It took them 25 minutes to show up, and when they did they didn’t bother or rush to go after the guys who took my car, they refused to go back to even inspect the crime scene (we met up a couple streets over), they said it was too dangerous. They took a police report and didn’t even give me a copy of it, but they gave the number (23_019102). On the phone I had asked for an ambulance before even asking for any police, to take me to the hospital to treat my injury and they neglected to send me one.

The next day someone called about a car crashed and left in the middle of the street so the police went to pick it up. It was mine and of course the catalytic converter was already carved out of it. There was other parts missing from the engine, bullet holes, and the front hood had been crashed into.

I thought I would finally have my car back, but they told me they needed it for “investigation”. What did they need to investigate when they didn’t even want to investigate the crime scene or go after the thieves in the first place? They impounded my car, and then told me that I would have to pay $250 every day it’s there plus $500 for the tow truck. It was there 5 days but they did waive 2 out of the 5 day fee for the investigation. I wasn’t able to pick it up straight away after 2 days because I was still in the hospital, the car was not driveable and I couldn’t afford to have it towed to my house. All of this expense while I am treating a head injury, I’m out of work, and reeling from the trauma of the assault.

I have been doing deliveries with my car since I have been out work. I lost my restaurant job in 2020 due to Covid, after working in the same restaurant for 7 years, it was closed down and I was out of work. I have been doing other odd jobs and temp jobs since then but food deliveries with my car has been an important source of income for me, and right now it is my only source while I continue looking for some other viable employment. I would not have been able to survive and keep my housing without it. Now that is being put into jeopardy again.

I have to pay the police for my own car after it was stolen from me, plus the repairs— including replacing the catalytic converters and others (I will post an estimate from the mechanic). I don’t have car insurance to help cover these things, it was canceled since last month when I couldn’t pay my premium.

Then I have my own medical copays to cover hearing tests, (I had ringing in one of my ears, severe headaches, and loss of hearing in one of my ears), tests for a concussion, brain damage and cerebral bleeding and also the vet costs for x-rays for Bella’s leg.

(Vet bill for Bella total = $2348)

Her leg was very swollen but thank god the vet said she will be okay after prescribing lots of medicine and that it’s not broken again. We are both very shaken up from this whole ordeal but with time, we will both recover from it, especially with any help and support I can get get from others. Despite this being a huge blow for me financially when I’m already struggling I am simply grateful to be alive, and no car or catalytic converter will ever be worth my life.

However, I do need to think about getting it fixed to to get back on my feet and get back to working as soon as possible. That is why I am asking for any help you can spare, that’s all I want to be able to do, is get my car up and running and be healthy and working again.

I am shocked that this happened to me. It’s easy to read in the news about the horrible uptick of crime and armed robberies, but then you realize how easily it can happen to you, and while you’re just picking up a delivery in the fast food drive-thru too, and then you feel even more hopeless. Along with that is the police’s apathetic response and failure to pursue the perpetrators, which makes me feel doubly hopeless and helpless that this will continue. What if my 8 year old daughter was with me when this happened?! I shudder to think of what could possibly happen.

As residents, we seem to be alone in the fight against crime just to survive and live safely in this city with our loved ones, because the police and government are not on our side. I care too much about this city to watch its people being targeted, even in broad daylight at times. Will anything ever be done to defend us and protect our rights? Will the police do anything to look for these 3 young men who are at large, and probably in the process of hurting and stealing from more people, right now?

These are questions that must be addressed, meanwhile we must also just do what we can to work and survive. Which is why am I asking for any assistance, if possible, so I can do just that. Absolutely anything helps and any amount you can give will be so appreciated. Even if you can’t donate anything, all of the encouraging messages and well wishes I received on NextDoor have lifted my spirits so much.

I will post updates on my medical condition and the bill as they come up, as I have to return to the hospital for more scans on my head in the next couple days, and official estimate from the mechanic. Below I will list a breakdown of the costs for everything and what the money will be going towards. Thank you so much everyone who offered me any help, those who encouraged me to make this Go-fund, and most of all just thank you for listening and hearing my story. I am so grateful for every one of you.

Your friend & neighbor,

Ahmed Elsharkawy

Donation $$ Breakdown:

- Police impound lot: $1,250

- Medical co-pays: ~$2200

- Vet bill: $2,350

- Repairs on the car: ~$4,500 (Official estimate from the mechanic coming 4/25)

= $10,300

Goal = $10,300