Thread: 4 Police Officers Shot Dead in Oakland, CA

Any more news on the identity of the shooter of the 4 police officers?

Three Oakland police officers die in shootings, one critical, city attorney says



Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger calls this a 'tragic day for law enforcement' and orders flags flown at half mast. The police department is expected to confirm their deaths at a news conference tonight.

By Maria L. LaGanga and Cara Mia DiMassa
9:18 PM PDT, March 21, 2009

Reporting from Los Angeles and Oakland -- Police say three officers and a suspect are dead and another officer is in grave condition after two related shootings, the first after a traffic stop and the second after a massive manhunt ended in gunfire.

Two motorcycle officers were shot during the traffic stop at 1:16.p.m. on MacArthur Boulevard in east Oakland. A man stepped out of the car and fired at the officers before fleeing into the neighborhood, authorities said.

After the first shooting, police launched a "very extensive manhunt" for the suspect, Thomason said. Police then received an anonymous tip that a possible suspect was barricaded inside a nearby apartment building.

About 3:20 p.m., officers tracked the suspect down at a building along 74th Avenue. SWAT officers entered the building. Russo said the suspect fired at officers through a wall with a high-powered rifle, hitting two of them.

SWAT officers "returned fire in defense of their lives," said acting Police Chief Howard Jordan.

The four officers were taken to Highland Hospital.

"We are not searching for anybody else right now," Thomason said. He added that the investigation is ongoing and that authorities were still trying to notify family members. "This is a highly sensitive situation we're dealing with," he said.

This was the first time since 1970 that four law enforcement officers perished at one time in California. That year four California Highway Patrol officers were killed in a shootout in Newhall on a freeway offramp.

The shootings today occurred along MacArthur Boulevard near the Eastmont police substation, where pawn shops, check-cashing stands and storefront churches line the street. Tonight, the area was still cordoned off with yellow police tape. Residents had to show identification before police would allow them to return to their homes.

Germaine Jackson, 23, who lives nearby, said he was at home when the shootings occurred.

"I came outside and I heard probably 10 gunshots," Jackson said.

Unfortunately, he said, gun violence is not uncommon in his neighborhood. "I don't feel safe at all," he said. "You don't know who will shoot you."

Yolanda Johnson, 58, was working at a pawn shop on MacArthur when she heard the shots.

"I've been working here for 18 years," she said. "This area is pretty bad and it's not getting better. It's so sad that happened to those officers."

K. Lowe, 40, who was walking his pit bull two blocks from the crime scene, said he was not surprised by the brazen shooting.

"It's a hot spot," he said. "This is just another day in the 'hood. It's sad, but what can you do? It's a doggone shame."

Standing nearby with officers, City Councilwoman Desley Brooks, whose district includes the Oakland area where the officers were gunned down, said her heart was with their relatives.

"Our prayers go out to all of the families of all the officers," she said. "They do such a tremendous service. And I can't even find words beyond what I have just said."

The officers' deaths saddened law enforcement officers throughout the state.

"We join our fellow police officers in praying for the families and friends whose hearts ache for their lost loved ones," Paul M. Weber, president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, said in a written statement. "The murder rampage today in Oakland should serve as a reminder that every day police officers bravely protect our families, friends, and neighbors from crime."

The last death of an on-duty Oakland police officer was in 2004 when William Seuis, 39, was killed in a hit-and-run crash on motorcycle patrol. Another officer, William Wilkins, 29, was mistakenly shot by two rookie officers in 2001 while he was on undercover patrol.

Police agencies in Oakland have been wracked with controversy in recent months.

A few weeks ago, Oakland Police Chief Wayne Tucker left the department in the wake of criticism. Tucker announced his resignation in late January as the City Council -- frustrated by rising crime and negative publicity -- planned to call for a vote of no confidence.

Tucker, who served as chief for more than four years, was blasted for his management of the department and his missteps in the investigation of the murder of journalist Chauncey Bailey.

Earlier this year, racially-tinged riots erupted in Oakland as a result of a shooting by another police agency. An on-duty transit police officer was seen on videotape shooting an unarmed man in the back at the Fruitvale BART station. The officer, Johannes Mehserle, who is white, was charged with murder in the death of Oscar J. Grant III, who is black.

LOS ANGELES TIMES

Originally Posted by Judy

Any more news on the identity of the shooter of the 4 police officers?

He was a parolee out from an agrevated asault charge.
Not sure of his name yet, but I did hear it mentioned during the live conference.

Okay, thanks. If you catch it again or have any details, let us know. I've watched off and on all day but never caught a report that revealed who the killer was.

So tragic, just horrible, 4 police officers dead from a traffic stop!

Unbelievable.

I heard the shooter's name earlier on the radio. I think it was Level (Levelle?) Nixon. Something like that. Apparently one cop, of the four that were shot, did not die but is still in critical condition.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me ... 5617.story

From the Los Angeles Times
State mourns three slain Oakland police officers
Law enforcement officials from across California express their remorse and prayers for the officers' families. Officials say five officers were shot, three killed and one in grave condition.
By Maria L. LaGanga and Anna Gorman

10:35 PM PDT, March 21, 2009

Reporting from Los Angeles and Oakland — In one of the deadliest police shootings in California history, three Oakland officers were killed and a fourth gravely wounded in two incidents Saturday that began with a routine traffic stop, police officials said.

"It is in these moments that words are extraordinarily inadequate," Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums said. "We come together in shock and grief and sadness and sorrow."

The officers who died were Sgt. Mark Dunakin, 40, Officer Ervin Romans, 43, and Sgt. Daniel Sakai, 35. Officer John Hege, 41, was in grave condition at Highland Hospital late Saturday.

The suspect, Lovelle Mixon, was also killed in the gunfire. Mixon, 27, was wanted on a no-bail warrant for violating his parole on a conviction of assault with deadly weapon.

Oakland Police Department Acting Chief Howard A. Jordan said "everyone is pouring out their hearts," referring to the panel of civic leaders behind him at a news conference Saturday night, including Dellums and state Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown, a former Oakland mayor. Jordan said handling the deaths will be a "traumatic and daunting task" but praised the resilience of his 800-officer department.

"We will get over this," he said. "It won't be easy. We will move on from this."

The violence began at 1:08 p.m. when Dunakin and Hege, the two motorcycle officers, pulled over a 1995 Buick on MacArthur Boulevard in east Oakland. At 1:16 p.m., a call came into the department saying two officers were down and needed medical attention. The driver had stepped out of the car and fired at the officers before fleeing into the neighborhood, authorities said.

Police launched a "very extensive manhunt," said department spokesman Jeff Thomason. Several streets were blocked off and a helicopter flew overhead. Police then received a tip that a possible suspect was barricaded inside a nearby apartment building.

About 3:20 p.m., SWAT officers entered the multiunit building on 74th Avenue, down the street from the first shooting. Authorities said the suspect immediately fired at officers with an assault weapon, hitting three of them. SWAT officers "returned fire in defense of their lives," Jordan said.

Romans and Sakai died. The third officer, who was not identified Saturday, was treated and released.

Thomason said that the investigation is ongoing but that officers were "not searching for anybody else right now."

Saturday's incident was among the worst of its kind since 1970, when four California Highway Patrol officers were killed in a shootout in Newhall. The officers had tracked down two gun-waving suspects who had been threatening motorists.

Oakland has long been renowned as a violence-plagued city where crime rates have soared in recent years, rising at least 40% since 2004.

The shootings Saturday occurred near the Eastmont police substation, where pawn shops, check-cashing stands and storefront churches line the street. By evening, the area was still cordoned off with yellow police tape. Residents had to show identification before police would allow them to return to their homes.

Jermaine Jackson, 23, who lives nearby, said he was at home when the shootings occurred.

"I came outside and I heard probably 10 gunshots," Jackson said.

Unfortunately, he said, gun violence is not uncommon in his neighborhood. "I don't feel safe at all," he said. "You don't know who will shoot you."

Yolanda Johnson, 58, was working at a pawn shop on MacArthur when she heard the shots.

"I've been working here for 18 years," she said. "This area is pretty bad and it's not getting better. It's so sad that happened to those officers."

K. Lowe, 40, who was walking his pit bull two blocks from the crime scene, said he was not surprised by the brazen shooting.

"It's a hot spot," he said. "This is just another day in the 'hood. It's sad, but what can you do? It's a doggone shame."

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a written statement that Saturday was a "tragic day for law enforcement officers everywhere." Capitol flags will be flown at half-staff in honor of the officers.

"All four officers dedicated their lives to public safety and selflessly worked to protect the people of Oakland," he said. "Maria and I join the Bay Area in remembering their service and honoring their sacrifice."

Oakland City Councilwoman Desley Brooks, whose district includes the area, said her heart was with their relatives.

"Our prayers go out to all of the families of all the officers," she said. "They do such a tremendous service. And I can't even find words beyond what I have just said."

Oakland City Atty. John Russo called the deaths "senseless."

"We didn't lose four officers in the earthquakes or the worst of the fires," he said. "You want to find meaning in it. It underscores what a difficult job it is to be a police officer."

The officers' deaths also saddened law enforcement officers throughout the state.

"We join our fellow police officers in praying for the families and friends whose hearts ache for their lost loved ones," Paul M. Weber, president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, said in a written statement. "The murder rampage today in Oakland should serve as a reminder that every day police officers bravely protect our families, friends, and neighbors from crime."

The last death of an on-duty Oakland police officer was in 2004 when William Seuis, 39, was killed in a hit-and-run crash on motorcycle patrol. Another officer, William Wilkins, 29, was mistakenly shot by two rookie officers in 2001 while he was on undercover patrol.

Police agencies in Oakland have been wracked with controversy in recent months.

A few weeks ago, Oakland Police Chief Wayne Tucker left the department in the wake of criticism. Tucker announced his resignation in late January as the City Council -- frustrated by rising crime and negative publicity -- planned to call for a vote of no confidence.

Tucker, who served as chief for more than four years, was blasted for his management of the department and possible missteps in the investigation of the murder of journalist Chauncey Bailey.

Earlier this year, racially-tinged riots erupted in Oakland as a result of a shooting by another police agency. An on-duty transit police officer was seen on video shooting an unarmed man in the back at the Fruitvale BART station. The officer, Johannes Mehserle, who is white, was charged with murder in the death of Oscar J. Grant III, who is black.

maria.laganga@latimes.com

anna.gorman@latimes.com

Cara Mia DiMassa, Rong-Gong Lin II, Ruben Vives and Carol J. Williams contributed to this story.


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Thanks for the name of the killer. I heard a news alert about an hour or so ago that the 4th police officer died. Has anyone else heard that?!

I just heard on KGO radio that the fourth police officer is still on life support. Pray for him.

Sgt. Mark Dunakin, 40, of Tracy was shot and killed Saturday in Oakland.


Oakland Police Sgt. Daniel Sakai was shot and killed Saturday in Oakland.


Oakland Police officer Sgt. Ervin Romans, 43, of Danville, was shot and killed Saturday in Oakland.


Officer John Hege, 41, of Concord, was shot Saturday afternoon in Oakland. He was on life support at Highland Hospital in grave condition Saturday night

Lovelle Mixon, 26, of Oakland was killed in a gunbattle Saturday with Oakland police.

http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_1196725 ... st_emailed