California Records First On-Duty Parole Agent Killing in Over a Century After Oakland Shooting

Oakland, California – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) Parole Agent Joshua Lemont Byrd, 40, was fatally shot on Thursday, July 17, 2025, inside the Division of Adult Parole Operations office in East Oakland. The incident, which marks the first line-of-duty death for a parole agent in California since the state's parole law was enacted in 1893, led to the immediate apprehension of suspect Bryan Keith Hall, 48, an Oakland parolee with a history of violent offenses.

Agent Byrd was shot around 12:50 p.m. at the state corrections office on Edgewater Drive. He was promptly transported to Highland Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The suspect, Bryan Keith Hall, fled the scene but was quickly detained by Oakland Police officers near 90th Avenue and International Boulevard.

Hall, who was recently paroled in January or February 2025 after serving over two years for a 2022 stabbing incident in Oakland, has a lengthy criminal record. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and authorities have not confirmed whether Byrd was Hall's assigned parole officer. Hall has been booked into Santa Rita Jail on suspicion of first-degree murder.

The tragic loss prompted widespread condolences from state officials and law enforcement agencies. Governor Gavin Newsom and Acting Governor Eleni Kounalakis issued a joint statement, saying, "Agent Byrd served with integrity and courage — and we’re forever grateful." Flags at the State Capitol were ordered to be flown at half-staff in Byrd's honor.

CDCR Secretary Jeff Macomber expressed profound sorrow, stating, "Our hearts are heavy as we remember Parole Agent Joshua Byrd, whose bravery and dedication led to his tragic death in the line of duty." Byrd, a U.S. Navy veteran, joined the CDCR in 2014, serving as a correctional officer and sergeant before becoming a parole agent in Oakland in October 2024. He is survived by his wife and three children.

On Friday, July 18, a solemn procession escorted Agent Byrd’s flag-draped casket from the Alameda County Coroner’s Bureau in Oakland to a funeral home in Sacramento. As reported by Henry K. Lee on social media, the escort included personnel from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Oakland Police Department, Alameda County District Attorney's Office, and California Highway Patrol. This procession allowed law enforcement and community members to pay their respects to the fallen agent.