Oakland Shooting Leaves Three Police Officers Dead
From left- Sgt. Mark Dunakin, Sgt. Ervin Romans and Sgt. Daniel SakaiDate Added Sunday, March 22, 2009 | 3:32 am
Last Updated Monday, March 23, 2009 | 8:49 pm
Category: News > City > Crime
OAKLAND-Three Oakland police officers were fatally shot and one critically injured in two related incidents Saturday afternoon by a suspect, who was also killed.
The incident began when Lovelle Mixon, a 26-year-old Oakland resident driving a 1995 Buick, was stopped at 1:08 p.m. by two motorcycle officers on the 7400 block of MacArthur Boulevard, Oakland police said at a press conference Saturday night.
Mixon allegedly shot the officers, killing one and leaving the other in critical condition, said Oakland police.
At about 1:16 p.m., officers responding to a 911 call found the two motorcycle officers wounded at the scene of the first incident, said Oakland Acting Police Chief Howard Jordan.
A "very extensive" manhunt took place, during which officers responding to an anonymous tip surrounded a nearby multi-unit apartment building on 74th Avenue about two hours later, Oakland police said.
Following a standoff, Mixon allegedy shot three SWAT officers with an assault weapon as they entered the apartment, killing two of them and grazing a third.
SWAT officers fired back, killing Mixon, who had been previously convicted of assault with a deadly weapon and had an arrest warrant for parole violation, Jordan said.
All injured officers were transported to Highland Hospital in Oakland.
Sgt. Mark Dunakin, 40, died from wounds sustained at the first incident and Officer John Hege, 41, remains in critical condition.
Sgt. Ervin Romans, 43, and Sgt. Daniel Sakai, 35, were killed in the second incident.
This marks the first day in which the Oakland Police Department has lost three of its officers in the line of duty, according to the department's press release.
"Our hearts go out to the families that at this very moment are experiencing a level of tragedy and loss beyond our ability to comprehend or to express in words," said Oakland Mayor Ronald Dellums. "These (officers) I'm sure left their homes with great expectations of returning. But they did not."
Because Mixon was a repeat offender, Attorney General Jerry Brown said this incident indicates a greater problem in the criminal justice system and that more money should be invested in the parole process.
"It's just an indication to me that our prison system is broken (and) the parole system is inadequate," he said. "Instead of cutting back and putting more and more burdens and restrictions we have to give the police greater authority to do their work and protect the citizens."
Bishop James E. Watkins, pastor and founder of the Jack London Square Chapel in Oakland, said Mixon should never have been released back onto the streets.
"I don't agree with letting every prisoner out of jail ... but that's our parole system," he said. "If they're going to let them out, they have to pour more money into the community to help these men."
Contact Tomer Ovadia and Zach A. Williams at newsdesk@dailycal.org.
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