Prominent Fashion Executive and Wife Found Fatally Shot Outside Berkeley Home
Authorities are investigating the deaths of Bryan and Michelle Walker, who ran the fashion company Bryn Walker.
Berkeley police discovered the bodies of Bryan Walker, 61, and Michelle Walker, 63, outside their home on Panoramic Way on Friday morning. Officers responded to reports of gunshots heard in the area around 10:48 a.m. and found the couple unresponsive.
Paramedics attempted life-saving measures, but both victims were pronounced dead at the scene. The couple were the founders of Bryn Walker, a women's fashion company known for its use of luxurious fabrics and commitment to comfort and sophistication. The company had locations in Berkeley and Massachusetts.
Surveillance footage captured audio of the first gunshot around 10:43 a.m., followed by sounds of distress. A second shot was heard shortly after, after which the scene became silent, according to CBS reports.
A neighbor, Alessandro Isolani, described hearing "two bangs, not too far apart, one louder, the other more muffled." Isolani, a resident of Panoramic Hill for over 20 years, expressed shock at the incident, stating he had never witnessed violent crime in the area.
Oakland police are leading the investigation, with assistance from the Berkeley Police Department. Oakland Police Assistant Chief Casey Johnson indicated that a murder-suicide has not been ruled out and stated that investigators are not currently searching for any individuals at large, assuring the neighborhood that there is no ongoing threat.
A single firearm was recovered at the scene. The UC Berkeley Police Department issued a community advisory to students, confirming there were no known or ongoing threats to the campus.