Tragic and very sad news:
Reporting from Los Angeles and Oakland — In a blow to the Oakland Police Department, four officers were shot to death during two incidents this afternoon that began with a routine traffic stop, Oakland authorities said.
City Atty. John Russo said tonight that he had been told all four were dead. The officers’ names have not been released. The suspect was killed in the gunfire.
“It’s senseless,” Russo said. “We didn’t lose four officers in the earthquakes or the worst of the fires. You want to find a meaning in it. It underscores what a difficult job it is to be a police officer.”
Late Saturday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger saluted police bravery and sacrifice and ordered flags flown at half mast in the capital.
“This is a tragic day for law enforcement officers everywhere. All four officers dedicated their lives to public safety and selflessly worked to protect the people of Oakland,” Schwarzenegger said in a statement. “Maria and I join the Bay Area in remembering their service and honoring their sacrifice. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those lost, the Oakland Police Department and law enforcement officers throughout California during this difficult time.”
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 only good news to come out of this is the suspect is dead.
About 100 officers were gathered outside the entrance to the hospital’s emergency room, waiting desperately for information about their wounded friends and colleagues. Some of them were wearing SWAT gear, while others were wearing baseball jerseys after having raced from a game.
UPDATE
Names released:
Mark Dunngan
John Hege
Ervin Romans
Dan Sakai
The shooter is 27 year old parolee Lovelle Mixon, on parole for ADW, and it looks like Hege is on life support…
UPDATE II
Found this on a Lovelle Mixon. No picture yet.
UPDATE III
From the Mercury News:
“I went over to one officer and saw he was bleeding from his helmet pretty bad,” he said. “The other officer was laying motionless.”
He said the officer lying near a car had two gun shot bullets near in his face. One bullet was lodged in his jaw and the other in his neck.
The man proceeded to give the officer CPR until police arrived on the scene, he said.
UPDATE IV
Local news report:
And typical of scum, here is a youtube video of someone writing:
4 punk ass police got shot and i hope there DEAD
UPDATE V
That scum I wrote about above who posted the youtube video is apparently is a rapper:
Askari X is a rather famous rapper from the Oakland, CA. Bay Area. He made a big bang with his controversial song released while locked up in prison, “Ward of the State.” He leans toward hard, “violent if necessary” black-power messages with Islamic tendencies. He has worked with artists such as Dead Prez and Tajai from the Hieroglyphics.
UPDATE VI
Overnight the pictures of the scumbag were released:
And the officers:
As well as some more detailed information:
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.
~~~First reports of the incident came from a 911 call at 1:16 p.m., reporting that two officers had been shot, possibly with an assault-type rifle. The suspect fled from the scene on foot, sparking a door-to-door manhunt in East Oakland that involved officers from at least five law enforcement agencies.
An anonymous tipster told police that the suspect was in an apartment building just blocks from the original shooting. The SWAT team was called to the site and took control of the area around the building. After repeated attempts to communicate with the suspect, SWAT officers entered the building around 3:30 p.m.
According to law enforcement sources, the SWAT team officers entered an apartment and approached a closet. Suddenly the gunman, hiding in the closet, opened fire through the door, killing two officers and wounding a third. Officers fired back, killing the gunman.
~~~Saturday’s shooting appears to be one of the state’s most horrific police killings.
The most notorious such slaying is referred to as the “Newhall incident,” a Los Angeles County shootout in 1970 that left four California Highway Patrol officers dead and changed the way state law enforcement officers approach high-risk stops.
Because of that Newhall incident we are all trained now to treat high risk stops in a controlled manner, forcing the occupants out of the car and walking back to us while we are behind cover. Unfortunately this appears to have been a run of the mill traffic stop by two motors who didn’t have a chance. Working in South Central Los Angeles I never, ever, approach a car during a traffic stop without seeing the hands of all occupants but from the sounds of it the Oakland officers never got a chance to even approach the car, the suspect bailed and began firing.
As for that youtube video, it’s still up. Youtube got a lot of complaints but decided in all their wisdom that it was just adult content so now you have to put in your age to view it. I’ve seen youtube ban videos that were much less offensive, but this one is a-ok. Nice.
Obama Democrats call for confiscation of all privately held “asault rifles” or othe high powered automatic guns in,,, 3, 2, 1,
Everyone keeps saying, “buy gold!” Nope. I’m stocking up on ammo! .223′s and .45acp’s among others. I figure a box of shells will be worth every bit as much as an ounce of gold in the impending disaster, and I can’t hunt or defend myself with gold.
Curt,
Great coverage. What a tragedy! Where did this guy get his skills at? It sounds as if he has some sort of training.
I was wondering how SWAT died because they usually have very good protection. A high power rifle would sure explain that. Hope the perp died slow.
From the reports I’m hearing he had an assault weapon and fired through a wall as they entered the building
Correction to this post.
Ofc. John Hege (one of the initial Motors) is still alive, but just barely. He’ll need your prayers.
I’d originally heard that all four were gone, too, so I can understand the confusion.
Where’d he get his skills?
I’m gonna suggest that a lot can be learned, and that these actions are perfectly in line with the video game Grand Theft Auto San Andreas edition. I believe that video games save more lives than they take because they’re outlets for what could otherwise be violence, but-BUT…this is just like the game.
Who knows?
In any event, my heart goes out to the families and friends of those involved, and my immediate thought is to thank Curt (again) and all those in law enforcement who time and time again every day do so much to keep us safe.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I doubt you’d have the balls to pull a gun on a cop…internet wannabe is what you are “Kop Killa” next time you encounter one repeat your statement…..I’m sure in any interaction you have with the police you’re saying “uhh yes sir, no sir”
I hope the perp burns in hell.
This scum served less than 9 months for assault with a deadly weapon! WTF is wrong with our system?
well Lisa the system is screwed up. The perp was also facing life without the possibility of parole he felt that he had nothing to lose I am sure he knew that his life was over.
More reasons to carry a gun. The police (God bless them) cannot protect you, they can only react.
…and the bastards who kill them would STILL have had guns if guns were prohibited to the rest of us!
DEEPEST SYMPATHIES TO THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF THE VICTIMS.
“4 punk ass police got shot and i hope there DEAD” — hopeless gutter rat
Any bets on who that soul-dead freak voted for in the last election? …and how often, thanks to ACORN?
@John ryan: He was not facing life for a parole violation. Not in California. This was not a new charge so it would not be a strike either. He just didn’t want to go to jail.
A comment was left held in moderation overnight which was a winner:
I just threw it in spam, and took great pleasure in deleting it. Anyone who lives in the vicinity of Stone Mountain, GA… this is one of your locals. The strange ways of life is if this scumbag ever dialed 911, someone would actually show up to help him/her. What a waste of resources.
Mata, that’s true. Usually the ones who badmouth the cops the most demand the most attention when something goes wrong.
Looking at the guys email I found this:
http://www.alexa.com/data/details/main/thetalkingdrum.com
Which leads to his/her website which is some African black power website….as you can see with this one entry promoting a festival:
The Oakland cops died for one reason and they will not be the last; THREE STRIKES LAW ! The guy pulled over had absolutely nothing to lose. A stupid “feel good” law killed those cops and many more citizens and cops will die because of it.
Nah, it was a scumbag with a gun who repeatedly exhibited no personal responsibility or accountability.
That’s what killed those police officers.
Thanks for playing though.
@Al Fitz: Baloney. The 3 strike law is one of the best things to have come out of California and has put away habitual criminals and saved lives. Anyways, there is NO reports that he was a 3 striker. Plenty of cops have died from those not wanting to go to jail….period. 3 strikes has nothing to do with it.
NOTE THE “SUN WHEEL” or “SUN CROSS” (CIRCLE AROUND A PLUS SIGN) ON HIS LEFT COLAR.
IT’S A “WHITE POWER SYMBOL”.
IN ADDITION TO BEING BAD, THESE GUYS ARE SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO STOOOOOPID!
When I was in the Navy, there was a guy who proudly claimed he was a member of the KKK. He used to call the Blacks names and treat them like crap, and he was the only white guy they liked. Go figure!
YONASON: Were is a picture of NOTE THE “SUN WHEEL” or “SUN CROSS” (CIRCLE AROUND A PLUS SIGN) ON HIS LEFT COLAR.
@Al Fitz:
SEE this picture, ….
http://www.floppingaces.net/wp-content/gallery/curts-pictures/3nd3p63l3zzzzzzzzz93l9b4c0f6981a11236.jpg
…or just under where it says…
“UPDATE VI
Overnight the pictures of the scumbag were released:”
You can clearly see 2 of them on his left collar (to the right of his head, as you are looking at the photo). There is on large one, with a smaller one underneath it, to one side. He’s probably psychologically attracted to the symbols, with no clue that those who hate him most share his pathological fascination with it, as well.
The news wires are reporting that John Hege passed away at approx. 12pm PST.
RIP…
F___!
I’ve been in the Army for over 20 years but I could never handle being a cop. This is just too much.
Just an FYI for those thinking that the symbols are White Power Symbols. those are also Native American symbols so perhaps the designer “borrowed” them from one of the Native cultures.
Not to say the perp wasnt a scumbag or an idiot, which obviously he was to shoot at police let alone kill 4 of them. My thoughts go out to their families.
How could SWAT screw up so badly to let someone get the drop like that on them?