TL/DR –
Oakland police officer Tuan Le was fatally shot while intercepting a burglary at a cannabis dispensary. He was a four-year veteran of the force, originally from Saigon, Vietnam, and had been serving as the Community Resource Officer in West Oakland. Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the burglary, but it is not confirmed if the shooter has been apprehended.
UPDATE
OAKLAND, Calif. – Two sources have confirmed that at least two suspects have been arrested following an early morning burglary and subsequent death of an Oakland police officer.
Oakland police sources say additional arrests related to the incident are expected. It remains unknown if the individual who fired the fatal shot has been apprehended.
Officer Le was killed early Friday while responding to a burglary at a cannabis dispensary near Ninth Avenue. He passed away at 8:44 a.m. at Highland Hospital.
Civic and state leaders, together with other police departments, have expressed their condolences over Officer Le’s death.
ORIGINAL STORY
An Oakland police officer, identified as 36-year-old Officer Tuan Le, was fatally shot while responding to a burglary at a cannabis dispensary, officials said.
“Officer Le, a dedicated public servant, cherished member of the Oakland community, and loving husband, passed away,” the police department said in a statement.
Le, a four-year veteran of the force, was dispatched to a cannabis business on Embarcadero after a reported burglary. Upon arrival, officers secured the business, and later noticed several suspects fleeing the scene.
During the response, a suspect fired a gun multiple times, striking Officer Le as he drove an unmarked vehicle. He was transported to Highland Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Police Chief Darren Allison said, “Today, one of our officers paid the ultimate sacrifice.”
His death marks the 54th officer killed in the Oakland police department’s 170-year history. The last Oakland police officer killed in the line of duty occurred in 2009.
Le began serving as a Community Resource Officer in West Oakland in 2020, where he worked tirelessly to strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and the residents of Oakland.
Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao called the murder of the guardian of their city “senseless,” vowing that Oakland will work relentlessly to bring those responsible to justice. Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price also pledged to prosecute the case.
A large police response was witnessed at Embarcadero and Ninth Avenue in Oakland with the crime scene extending for blocks.
Outside law enforcement agencies and California leaders, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, expressed their support and condolences following news of Officer Le’s death.
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