https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Airbnb-Orinda-shooting-Halloween-party-victims-14804604.php
By Eric Ting, SFGATE
Updated-
Contra Costa County Sheriff deputies investigate a multiple shooting in Orinda, Calif., on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. Four people were killed and four others wounded in a Halloween night party shooting at a large rental home in a wealthy San Francisco Bay Area community, police said Friday. The shooting in the city of about 20,000 just east of Berkeley, happened at a party attended by 100 people said police chief David Cook. lessContra Costa County Sheriff deputies investigate a multiple shooting in Orinda, Calif., on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. Four people were killed and four others wounded in a Halloween night party shooting at a large ... morePhoto: Ray Chavez, AP
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky said Saturday morning that the home rental service will ban "party houses" and crack down on "abusive host and guest conduct" following a shooting at an unauthorized Halloween party in Orinda that left five non-Orinda residents dead.
People with knowledge of the transaction told the Associated Press that the woman who rented the home lied to the host, saying she needed a place to keep family members away from wildfire smoke. The host was reportedly suspicious of a one-night rental on Halloween, and reminded the woman that no parties were allowed prior to agreeing to the rental.
After the shooting, Airbnb banned the woman from the platform. Chesky tweeted Saturday morning that Airbnb will take additional measures to stop unauthorized parties.
"First, we are expanding manual screening of high-risk reservations flagged by our risk detection technology," Chesky tweeted. "Second, we are creating a dedicated 'party house' rapid response team. Third, we are taking immediate action against users who violate these enhanced guest policies, including removal."
FULL COVERAGE: No arrests after California Halloween shooting kills 5
Additional specifics were not immediately available, and Chesky said a member of Airbnb's executive team will "initiate a 10 day sprint to review and accelerate the development and implementation of these new safety initiatives."
"We must do better, and we will," Chesky tweeted. "This is unacceptable."
Five people in total were killed in the shooting.
The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office initially identified the deceased as Tiyon Farley, 22, of Antioch; Omar Taylor, 24, of Pittsburg; Ramon Hill Jr., 23; and Javin County, 29. The sheriff's office identified a fifth victim, 19-year-old Oshiana Tompkins of Vallejo and Hercules, late Friday night, saying she died at a hospital.
The party at the four-bedroom house apparently was advertised on social media as an "Airbnb mansion party." One attendee told the Associated Press he was enjoying the music and watching people dance when he heard shots and people started running.
No arrests have been made.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Eric Ting is an SFGATE digital reporter. Email: eric.ting@sfgate.com | Twitter:@_ericting