OAKLAND, CA — A community is reeling, a family is broken, and an entire state law enforcement agency is mourning the devastating loss of one of its own.
On Thursday afternoon, July 17, 2025, Parole Agent Joshua Lemont Byrd, age 40, was tragically shot and killed in the line of duty near the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) state office at 7717 Edgewater Drive, close to Pardee Lane in East Oakland. The gunfire erupted shortly before 12:50 p.m., jolting an otherwise routine day into one that would end in heartbreak and sorrow.
A Dedicated Public Servant
Agent Byrd had served the people of California with integrity and honor for over a decade. He began his career with CDCR in June 2014, entering the department as a cadet at the Correctional Officer Academy. Over the years, his commitment and professionalism saw him rise through the ranks—from correctional officer to correctional sergeant, and ultimately to parole agent, a role he took on with the Division of Adult Parole Operations at the Oakland Office in October 2024.
By all accounts, Agent Byrd was a respected colleague, a beloved family man, and a trusted protector who believed deeply in public service and second chances. Tragically, that mission cost him his life at the hands of the very system he sought to make safer.
The Suspect
The man accused of this senseless act has been identified as 48-year-old Bryan Keith Hall, a recently paroled individual with a documented violent criminal history. Hall allegedly opened fire on Agent Byrd outside the state parole office and fled the scene, sparking a massive manhunt involving numerous law enforcement agencies.
Authorities eventually located and detained Hall in the surrounding area, bringing the hours-long ordeal to an end. The motives remain under investigation, but the CDCR and Oakland Police Department have confirmed that the attack was deliberate and targeted.
A Family’s Devastating Loss
Joshua Byrd is survived by his wife and three children, who now face an unimaginable future without their husband and father. The pain of his sudden and violent death will echo not only through his home, but throughout the law enforcement community in California and beyond.
In honor of Agent Byrd’s ultimate sacrifice, Governor Gavin Newsom ordered flags at the State Capitol and all state facilities to be flown at half-staff. This tragic event marks the first line-of-duty death for the CDCR since 2018, a grim reminder of the risks officers face daily.
A Community in Mourning
News of Byrd’s death has sent shockwaves through both the CDCR and the greater Oakland area. Fellow officers and CDCR personnel described him as a man of deep character, compassion, and quiet strength—someone who believed in rehabilitation, but also in accountability. His death comes at a time when parole officers are increasingly thrust into dangerous environments with high stakes and little margin for error.
Condolences have poured in from across the state—from law enforcement agencies, elected officials, and members of the public who recognize the difficult, often thankless work that parole agents perform each day to maintain safety and justice.
Remembering Joshua Lemont Byrd
Joshua Byrd’s life was one of service. He wore the badge with pride, not for the authority it gave, but for the opportunity it offered to protect, guide, and uplift those striving for redemption. He died fulfilling that mission.
His absence leaves a void that can never be filled, but his legacy will live on in the lives he touched—both within the correctional system and at home, where he was a devoted husband and a proud father.
As the investigation continues, and as the wheels of justice turn for the man accused of this heinous act, California pauses to grieve and remember a man who gave his all to the cause of public safety.
Rest in Peace, Parole Agent Joshua Lemont Byrd.
End of Watch: July 17, 2025.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” – Matthew 5:9
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