Oscar Grant was a 22-year-old African American man who was fatally shot by a police officer in Oakland, California on January 1, 2009. The incident occurred at the Fruitvale BART station during a New Year's Eve celebration, where Grant was detained along with other passengers. The shooting was captured on video by bystanders, leading to widespread public outrage. The officer involved, Johannes Mehserle, claimed he intended to use his taser instead of his firearm. Grant's death sparked protests and discussions about police brutality, racial profiling, and the treatment of African Americans by law enforcement, contributing to the broader Black Lives Matter movement.