OAKLAND — An Oakland police officer died after being shot early Friday morning after responding to reviews of a burglary at a hashish enterprise, the second burglary on the location inside 4 hours.

In an replace Friday afternoon, Oakland Police recognized the officer killed as 36-year-old Tuan Le. Born in Vietnam, Le moved to Oakland and was naturalized on September 11, 2001.

Le graduated from the 183rd police academy in 2020. Police mentioned Le served because the neighborhood useful resource officer in West Oakland for the previous two years.

“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,” police mentioned in an announcement.

The taking pictures occurred on the 400 block of Embarcadero simply after 4:30 a.m. Friday. At a press convention Friday afternoon, Interim Police Chief Darren Allison mentioned uniformed and plainclothes officers conducting burglary suppression had been dispatched to the 400 block of Embarcadero simply earlier than 1 a.m. on reviews of a burglary in progress. They discovered proof of a burglary at a enterprise however no suspects had been discovered on the scene, Allison mentioned.

Shortly after 4:30 a.m., dispatchers obtained a second report of a burglary on the identical location and, as officers arrived, they noticed a number of people leaving the enterprise. Allison mentioned that, because the people fled, considered one of them started taking pictures a number of occasions towards officers, hitting a plainclothes officer driving a car. 

The officer was taken to Highland Hospital the place he died of his accidents at 8:44 a.m. regardless of efforts by medical personnel, Allison mentioned. Le was surrounded by his spouse, mom and members of the division when he died.

At the scene, a white Toyota Tacoma truck with bullet holes and home windows shattered was seen crashed into the again of a parked car. Shell casings had been seen close to the southbound Highway 880 entrance close to ninth St. and Embarcadero.  

“The dangers and demands of this profession are real and come with significant sacrifice,” Allison mentioned. “Sadly today, one of our officers paid the ultimate sacrifice.” 

Following the incident Friday morning, there was a big gathering of police officers in addition to Mayor Sheng Thao holding vigil at Highland Hospital. 

“I see them hugging. I can feel that hug from standing across the street,” mentioned Roger Gomez, observing the scene. Gomez by no means met the officer however got here to the hospital to pay his respects.

“Right now, just feeling totally empty inside and sad for the loss of the officer and everything that’s going on in Oakland. I was born and raised here. I’m 70 years old now. It just hurts,” Gomez mentioned.

Gomez mentioned he by no means felt unsafe in Oakland till this 12 months after witnessing and listening to about a number of burglaries close to his home. In truth, he was on his means to purchase safety tools to guard his house when he heard in regards to the killing.

Several hours after Le’s demise, members of the Oakland Police Department saluted as his physique, lined by a U.S. flag, was led out of the hospital and right into a coroner’s van. Patrol autos fashioned an honorary procession to accompany his physique to the Alameda County Coroner’s Bureau a number of miles away in Oakland.

“This morning, one of our brave and dedicated Oakland police officers has died in the line of duty,” mentioned Thao on the press convention. “I am truly devastated by this news and I know that all of Oakland feels the impact of this loss.”  

Thao added that lots of the metropolis’s officers are hurting over the lack of their colleague and can want the neighborhood’s help.

“This senseless murder of a police officer, one of the guardians of our beautiful city, it will not stand,” mentioned Thao. “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.” 

“This loss cuts deep,”  mentioned Mayor Sheng Thao at a press convention. “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.”

In a ready assertion, Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price referred to as the taking pictures “a tremendous tragedy for our entire community and extremely traumatizing for our law enforcement partners across the County.”  

“I spoke to Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao this morning and offered my condolences. I also assured Mayor Thao that the Alameda County District Attorney’s office is standing by to assist in any way we can and to support the Town in this critical time,” mentioned Price. “I also called the President of the Oakland Police Officers’ Association, Barry Donelan, to offer condolences to the officer’s family and colleagues from myself and on behalf of the Alameda County District Attorney’s office. While the investigation is ongoing, I assured Mr. Donelan that my office stands ready to prosecute whoever is responsible and hold them accountable for killing this officer.”

The San Francisco Police Officers Association posted a message on social media simply after 9 a.m., saying, “Our prayers are with the Oakland PD officer shot this morning while doing their job and all the officers at @oaklandpoliceca and OPOA. We stand with you.”

Le is the 54th Oakland Police officer to be killed in the road of obligation.

Da Lin contributed to this report