The search is on for a gunman after an Oakland police officer was shot and killed early Friday while responding to a burglary in progress in the Jack London Square area.
The officer was identified by police as 36-year-old Tuan Le, a four-year veteran of the Oakland Police Department.
"The dangers and demands of this profession are real and come with significant sacrifice," said Darren Allison, interim chief for the Oakland Police Department. "Sadly, today one of our officers paid the ultimate sacrifice."
The fallen officer was part of an overnight burglary operation, Allison said.
Officers at 1 a.m. responded to a business on the 400 block of Embarcadero to investigate a report of a possible burglary in progress. The area was cleared shortly after police responded.
At 4:33 a.m., police said officers received another report of a burglary in progress at the same business. Uniformed and plainclothes officers working the burglary operation responded and saw multiple people leaving the scene.
Allison said at least one suspect fired several shots, striking an officer who was in plain clothes and driving an unmarked vehicle. Le was taken to a hospital and later pronounced dead.
"Oakland this loss cuts deep," Mayor Sheng Thao said. "Many of our officers are hurting right now and they're going to need our support. Our community is in shock. This senseless murder of a police officer, one of the guardians of our beautiful city, it will not stand. Oakland will work tirelessly with all of our law enforcement partners to find those responsible for this assault on our city and the killing of our officer. We will work together to bring these perpetrators to justice."
Get a weekly recap of the latest San Francisco Bay Area housing news. Sign up for NBC Bay Area’s Housing Deconstructed newsletter.
Footage from the scene showed a white pickup truck that had crashed into a parked vehicle. The truck appeared to have several bullet holes in it, and the windows were shattered.
There were also evidence tags scattered across the street near what appeared to be shell casings.
Brian Lusher, who was sleeping in his boat at a nearby marina, said he was woken up by the sound of gunfire.
"I heard maybe five shots, something like that, maybe more, but that’s what I remember, and then suddenly I heard the helicopter," he said.
A procession for the officer took place in the afternoon. Dozens of officers from the Oakland Police Department, California Highway Patrol, neighboring law enforcement agencies, and other responders lined 14th Street in tribute.
The group stood in attention and saluted as the officer's body was moved under full police escort from Highland Hospital to the Alameda County Coroner's Office.
"Our members are devastated by this unwarranted attack and the loss of one of our family. I am proud of the officers who responded this morning and carried their brother to the hospital on their shoulders. Their actions personified what it means to be an Oakland police officer," Oakland Police Officers' Association President Barry Donelan said in a statement. "As we mourn, rest assured that we are also determined to bring this cop killer to justice."
Remembering Oakland police Officer Tuan Le
Le was born in Vietnam. He later moved to Oakland and was naturalized on Sept. 11, 2001.
Officer Le graduated from the 183rd Police Academy on Feb. 21, 2020.
Over the past two years he served as a community resource officer in West Oakland.
"His tireless efforts in fostering positive relationships made a lasting impact," police said in a statement. "Officer Le was a devoted husband to his wife. His passing leaves a void in the law enforcement community, the city of Oakland, and in the hearts of those who knew him. He will be remembered for his kindness, his smile, and the positive change he brought to the lives of those around him. He is a true hero who dedicated his life to making our community safer."
Le is the 54th Oakland police officer killed in the line of duty. He is survived by his wife.
Oakland police said they have significant evidence, but are also asking anyone with additional information to contact them at 510-238-3821 as they continue to search for the suspects involved.
