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Five Oakland police officers shot; 4 killed

Occasionally, the California Wonderland turns very violent….

(Note added March 25, 2009: the fourth Oakland police officer, whose body was being kept alive on life support, was official declared dead last night. His organs were donated to four people.)

Although CNN’s article says that the Oakland police officers are in critical condition, a KCBS article states that all four were killed after a traffic stop on MacArthur Boulevard this afternoon led to an exchange of gunfire and a manhunt.

(Update March 21, 2009, 10:11 PM: After the evening news, it appears that the CNN article is more accurate with respect to location and with regard to injuries and deaths. Five officers were shot; three were killed; one is in “grave” condition in Highland Hospital (Note added March 22, 2009: This officer was declared “brain dead” today.), and one was “grazed” by a bullet. The two officers killed on storming the apartment were shot by an “assault rifle” according to TV news. It is not clear, from the inaccurate firearm descriptions common in California media (and in California firearms laws), whether the weapon was a true selective-fire weapon or merely a semiautomatic rifle. The alleged gunman who was killed was identified as 26-year-old LaVelle Mixon. At the time of the shooting, he was in violation of his parole for assault with a deadly weapon.)

The first shooting started about 1:15 PM PDT on MacArthur Boulevard. A suspect in a traffic stop allegedly shot two Oakland police officers and fled on foot to an apartment building on 74th. The officers returned fire and were left in critical condition. One of the two later died from his wounds. (Note added March 22, 2009: The other officer was declared “brain dead” today and is on life support pending a decision on organ donation.)

Police from several agencies, the California Highway Patrol, and Alameda County Sheriff deputies searched for the suspect after shutting down an entire area of East Oakland to traffic. An anonymous caller directed police to a building on an adjacent street. At around 3:10 PM PDT, police and SWAT officers confronted the suspect at an apartment building and exchanged gunfire with the suspect, killing him. Three more police officers were shot. Three of the five officers shot later died, and the officer who was in critical condition in Highland Hospital has been declared “brain dead;” one officer was grazed by a bullet, treated, and released. Aerial video from the scene off 74th Street in Oakland showed a sidewalk with pools of blood and crime-scene investigators blocking off the area.

We offer our sympathies to the family and friends of these brave officers, fallen in the line of duty protecting the rest of us.

-Bill at Cheshire Cat Photo™

You can view higher-resolution photos (*generally* 7-30 megabytes, compressed) at the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™, where you can also order prints and gifts decorated with the photos of your choice from the gallery. Apparel and other gifts decorated with some of our most popular photos can be ordered from the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress®. Both Shutterfly™ and CafePress® ship to most international locations worldwide! If you don’t see what you want or would like to receive an email when new photos are up on the site, send us an email at info@cheshirecatphoto.com.

1 Comment to “Five Oakland police officers shot; 4 killed”

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I pray that all of the officers involved will be all right. My heart and prayers go out to them and their family.

luvhugsnkisses4u said this on March 21st, 2009 at 8:40 pm


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