Four Dead, Including Three Policemen, in Oakland Shootout
Three Policemen Killed, Two Wounded in Deadliest Police Shooting in Oakland History
Sgt. Mark Dunakin, 40, was shot just after he and his partner attempted to pull Mixon over. Dunakin later died from his wounds. His partner, John Hege, 41, was shot in the head. The suspect fled the scene.
A short time later, Oakland police were led to a building complex a block from the original shooting scene by a tip, and a SWAT team was called in. Lavelle Mixon had barricaded himself within an apartment and a shootout ensued. Two more police officers, Ervin Romans, 42, and Daniel Sakai, 35, were killed in the exchange. Mixon was also killed.
Another officer was grazed by a bullet, treated, and released from the hospital.
Authorities did not believe that there were other individuals involved but did not rule out the possibility.
Lavelle Mixon was in violation of his parole for assault with a deadly weapon when the shooting incident occurred. Oakland officials found that he had an extensive criminal record.
At the original crime site, the crime scene was cordoned off for processing. There were reports of onlookers taunting the police as they worked.
The taunting is an unfortunate by-product of the contentious relationship between Oakland's citizens and its police force, a history that goes back several decades. It rose to the surface again recently when tensions mounted after the BART shooting of unarmed Oscar Grant early New Year's morning. The shooting was caught on video and quickly went viral. Protests and riots followed, especially after authorities did not immediately arrest the BART officer, Johannes Mehserle.
Citizens of Oakland were outraged by the video, which showed Johannes Mehserle drawing his pistol on a BART platform while standing above a restrained Oscar Grant and fatally shooting him in the back.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced that flags would be flown at half-mast at government buildings for the fallen officers. He said, in part, "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."
Today's police shooting incident is the deadliest in Oakland city history and the worst in the area since 1989 when five Alameda County sheriff's deputies were killed in an explosion detonated by the suspect they were attempting to apprehend.
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Related:
BART Shooting Video Sparks Riots
BART Officer Arrested In Nevada
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Sources:
KTVU.com
CNN.com
Published by Saul Relative
WVU graduate, with degrees in History, English, Secondary Education, Computer Programming, and Psychology (and nearly a degree in Political Science). Originally from West Virginia, with stints in Virginia,... View profile
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12 Comments
Post a CommentYou apparently have no idea what you're talking about, S. Jepson. The BART shooting has everything to do with the Oakland PD and the people of Oakland. They're looked at as cops. Men with badges. The Man. The oppressive, shoot-first-ask-questions-later attitude that led to the contentiousness on the part of the citizens of Oakland decades ago to the present. You will not see the people of Oakland rise against the killings of police officers, although most of the people of Oakland find those officers' deaths tragic. And many see the deaths as part of the hazards of the job. Not that that makes their deaths justified, but simply tragic. But when an armed officer, whether they be Oakland city or BART, shoots an unarmed man in the back, public outrage is triggered by the history of the area and by the excessiveness of the act itself. No one is deflecting from the deaths of those officers; only trying to explain the social reaction...
I DON'T PROMOTE KILLINGS BUT BLACK FOLKS BEEN BEEN KILLED FOR YEAR BY THE POLICE AND NOBODY MAKES A BIG DEAL ABOUT IT SO I DEDICATE (JUST RUN,RUNNING ON EMPTY,AND MILITARY MINDED ) TO LAVELL MIXION......AHUUURUUU!!!!!!!!
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I DON'T PROMOTE KILLINGS BUT BLACK FOLKS BEEN BEEN KILLED FOR YEAR BY THE POLICE AND NOBODY MAKES A BIG DEAL ABOUT IT SO I DEDICATE (JUST RUN,RUNNING ON EMPTY,AND MILITARY MINDED ) TO LAVELL MIXION......AHUUURUUU!!!!!!!!
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Oakland, CA.
Wendy, I think Dan makes a good point. As horrible as this event may have been, the need the media feels to reminded people about the events with the Bay Area Rapid Transit Police (BART PD) have nothing to do with the relationship between Oakland PD and its residence. Although I have seen a great deal of support from its citizens in regards to the killings of the officers, where are the riots, business burnings and un-needed violence now? Where is all the social outrage!
Shouldn't it be about time that America should take another look at the Constitutions and its Amendments in regards to firearms. I've been told that America is a safe country to live in but in reality it isn't. 80% of the crimes are related with guns, it's so horrifying!!!
Can someone please tell me why Dan Holland didn't read page two? The relationship to the story is background on the police relationship with citizenship in Oakland. Regarding the story - tragic. Good coverage.
Can someone please tell me why is was necessary to end a story on "Four Dead, Including Three Policemen, in Oakland Shootout" with a concluding sentence of "Citizens of Oakland were outraged by the video, which showed Johannes Mehserle drawing his pistol on a BART platform while standing above a restrained Oscar Grant and fatally shooting him in the back." What does that have to do with the current story? Yet another attempt to turn your attention to something other than the tragedy at hand. Why can't the media display all stories with the same glamour or restraint? Oh that's right, the media is controlled by others with ulterior motives.
Good job done here.
What a bad situation!