Three Oakland police sergeants were shot and killed and a fourth officer was critically wounded Saturday in a pair of related incidents that together rank among the deadliest attacks on law enforcement in California history.
A fifth officer, a member of the SWAT team that killed the suspect police held responsible for the shootings, was treated for minor injuries and released.
The first incident happened about 1:15 p.m. when two traffic officers were gunned down after what police described as a “routine” stop of a 1995 Buick in the 7400 block of MacArthur Boulevard in East Oakland, not far from the Eastmont Town Center.
About two hours later, after some 200 officers from Oakland Police, Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, BART Police and the California Highway Patrol combed the area for the suspect, three SWAT officers were shot when their team found him hidden in an apartment on 74th Avenue near Hillside Street, police officials said.
In all, two SWAT officers and one traffic officer died in the two incidents; one traffic officer was on life support late Saturday.
“All four officers dedicated their lives to public safety and selflessly worked to protect the people of Oakland,” Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a statement. “Maria and I join the Bay Area in remembering their service and honoring their sacrifice.”
Schwarzenegger said Capitol flags would be flown at half-staff. He is flying from Washington to Oakland Sunday to meet with the mayor and Howard Jordan, Oakland’s acting police chief.
Oakland City Council member Larry Reid called the incident “one of the worst days in the history of Oakland.”
Source: SFGate
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