Bryan Walker and Michelle Min found shot dead outside Oakland home

What happened

On Oct 2, 2026, officers from the Oakland Police Department responded to a call at the 400 block of Panoramic Way in the Panoramic Hill neighbourhood. They found a man and a woman with multiple gunshot wounds; both were pronounced dead at the scene. The victims were later identified as Bryan Walker, 61, and Michelle Min, 63, the co‑founders of the luxury women’s fashion label Bryn Walker.

Who were the victims

Walker and Min built Bryn Walker in the early 1990s after meeting in Kansas in the 1980s and moving to California with Min’s family. The brand, headquartered in Berkeley, designs and produces its collections locally and operates six company‑owned stores, supplying roughly 1,000 boutiques nationwide. Two of its stores sit in Berkeley, with a third on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.

Police investigation

Oakland police, the lead investigative agency, recovered a handgun at the scene but have not confirmed who fired it. The department has not ruled out murder‑suicide, echoing a note in a San Francisco Chronicle report that the case remains “open” as investigators consider all possibilities. No additional details have been released.

Family and community response

Paul Min, Michelle’s brother, told the Los Angeles Times he believes Walker shot his sister before turning the gun on himself, citing a recent decline in Walker’s mental state after alleged multi‑million‑dollar losses in risky ventures. He added that Min had planned to have Walker admitted for psychiatric treatment on the day of the shooting. Police have not verified these claims.

Neighbors gathered on Sunday for a makeshift memorial outside the couple’s home, leaving flowers, cards and other mementos. Janice Thomas, a nearby resident, said the tragedy felt “deeply unsettling” for the whole hill community.

What comes next

The investigation remains active. Police have asked anyone with information, video or photos to contact the Oakland Homicide Section at 510‑238‑3821 or via email at cidvideos@oaklandca.gov. As the case unfolds, friends and colleagues of Walker and Min are left grappling with the loss of two influential figures in Bay Area fashion.