Two bodies were pulled from Oakland’s Lake Merritt early Thursday morning.

The two have been identified as Michael Grace 39, of Oakland and Tayana Johnson 24, of Oakland. Families members say the two were a couple.

According to the Oakland Police Department, a 4:15 a.m. officers received a call from a resident about two people who appeared to be drowning. 

Officers and crews from the Oakland Fire Department responded to the area. 

A dive team unit was able to locate a man and administered CPR. He was transported to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. 

The body of a second victim, a woman, was found and pronounced dead at the scene. 

KRON4’s Will Tran spoke with investigators who tell us this was no accident.

Here is the full statement from police:

On March 15, 2018, at 4:15 AM, the Oakland Police Department Communications Division received reports from citizens regarding two people, a male and female who appeared to be drowning in Lake Merritt.

Oakland Police Officers responded to the area of Lakeshore and Hanover. Upon arrival Officers reported they only saw a man in the water. Four officers entered the waters of Lake Merritt in an attempt to rescue the man. The officers brought a non-responsive man to shore and began rendering first aid. The man was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

The Oakland Fire Department along with the San Francisco Fire Department Dive team were on scene. Both agencies searched the waters and eventually were able to locate and recover a non-responsive female who was pronounced at the scene.

The Alameda Coroner’s Office has identified Michael Grace 39, of Oakland and Tayana Johnson 24, of Oakland. The families of Grace and Johnson have reported the two were in a dating relationship.

Investigators believe that Grace and Johnson were involved in a physical altercation. Johnson exhibited signs of physical injuries. At this time Johnson’s death is being investigated as a homicide and the death of Grace is being investigated as accidental.

The Oakland Police Department would like to thank our community members who got involved and reported two people were in the lake. This assisted first responders with a continuous search for the female.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Oakland Police Department Homicide Division at (510) 238-3821 or the TIP LINE at 238-7950.

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