Oakland police: Homicide-accident for couple dead in Lake Merritt

The deaths of a man and a woman pulled out of Lake Merritt after reports of fighting are being investigated as a homicide and accident, officials said.|
ASSOCIATED PRESS
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

OAKLAND - The deaths of a man and a woman pulled out of an Oakland city lake after reports of fighting are being investigated as a homicide and accident, officials said.

The Oakland Police Department said in a statement that rescuers arrived at Lake Merritt early Thursday and saw a man in the water.

They fished an unresponsive Michael Grace, 39, from the lake. He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Rescuers also recovered the body of Tayana Johnson, 24, who was declared dead at the scene. The families of Grace and Johnson reported the two were dating.

Investigators said the two had been fighting as Johnson's body showed signs of physical injuries.

Johnson's death is being investigated as a homicide and the death of Grace is being investigated as an accident.

Both were residents of Oakland.

The popular Lake Merritt is lit by a "necklace of lights" strung from lampposts circling the 3.4 mile lake.

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