A jury on Thursday found one man not guilty of 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter in the 2016 fire at Oakland's Ghost Ship warehouse but could not reach a verdict for the building's leaseholder.
Max Harris was acquitted and Derick Almena's case ended in a hung jury.
As the verdicts were read, there were noticeable gasps and tears from relatives and friends of those who died, CNN affiliate KPIX reported.
Prosecutors alleged Almena, the leaseholder, and Harris, who helped collect rent and acted as creative director for the art collective housed at the 10,000-square-foot facility, were responsible for the deaths resulting from the blaze. "We are eternally grateful for the verdict today," said Curtis Briggs, an attorney for Harris. Briggs thanked the jury and the community in a press briefing.
Briggs criticized the leadership in Oakland, urging reform.
"This isn't a time to celebrate for Max Harris, because this community is sick. This community is sick because the leadership is sick," Briggs said.