Ebony Alert issued in Oakland for missing at-risk teen, later deactivated after she was located

What happened

An Ebony Alert was activated for an at-risk teenage girl reported missing in Oakland after she was last seen early Monday morning, prompting a regional public notice intended to generate tips quickly. The alert was later deactivated after authorities reported the teen had been located.

The missing person was identified as Leilani Bishop, 16. She was last seen around 5 a.m. Monday in the 3400 block of 66th Avenue in Oakland, carrying a gray backpack. Beyond the basic “last seen” details, authorities did not publicly release information explaining the circumstances of her disappearance.

How the Ebony Alert works in California

California’s Ebony Alert is part of the state’s broader Missing Alert Plan coordinated by the California Highway Patrol’s Emergency Notification and Tactical Alert Center. The system is designed to support investigations by rapidly distributing identifying information to the public when a Black young person is believed to be missing under circumstances that raise concern.

State law authorizes a local law enforcement agency to request an Ebony Alert for a missing person who meets key conditions, including:

• Age 12 to 25, inclusive
• Reported missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances, or believed to be at risk
• Or in situations involving possible abduction, developmental disability, or cognitive impairment

Why alerts are issued and then canceled

Like other emergency notification tools, an Ebony Alert is typically activated to broaden public awareness during the window when tips can be most useful. When the missing person is located, the alert is deactivated to prevent outdated information from circulating and to reduce the risk of misidentification. In this case, authorities said Bishop was found, but did not provide details on where she was located or whether the case involved a crime.

What residents should know when an alert arrives

Alerts are intended to be actionable. Residents can help by noting the identifying information in the message, being attentive to locations and transit corridors referenced in the notice, and reporting credible sightings directly to law enforcement. Officials generally urge the public not to engage directly with potential suspects or attempt to intervene, and to avoid sharing unverified claims online that could hinder an investigation.

Ebony Alerts are one of several California missing-person notification types, alongside Amber, Silver, Feather, Yellow, Blue and endangered missing advisories.

Because Ebony Alerts hinge on limited verified details released quickly, information may remain sparse even as an alert is active. The underlying investigation typically continues after a cancellation, particularly if the initial disappearance was considered suspicious or involved risk factors.