Berkeley police evacuate buildings due to possible bomb

Berkeley police are advising community members to avoid the 1700 block of University Avenue due to a suspicious package that could be a bomb.

Officers found the item in the area of Sunday morning’s police shooting, which left a man in critical condition.

Authorities sent a Nixle alert just before 12:30 p.m. to announce the discovery.

Berkeley police said University Avenue is closed in both directions and drivers and pedestrians should use alternate routes “until further notice.”

Police began evacuating buildings in the neighborhood sometime before noon and put up yellow crime scene tape to keep people out of the area, according to radio dispatches reviewed by The Scanner.

This story will be updated as additional details become available.

Man in critical condition after Berkeley police shooting

At one point, the man racked a shotgun and threatened to shoot officers if they approached him, according to radio traffic reviewed by The Scanner.

The Berkeley ScannerEmilie Raguso

Earlier Sunday morning, police shot a man inside an apartment building at University and McGee avenues following reports of a domestic disturbance involving a woman screaming for help.

An officer shot the man, a 33-year-old Berkeley resident, after he came outside with a firearm and failed to respond to efforts to negotiate with him, Berkeley police said.

There was no update on his condition as of publication time.