OAKLAND, Calif. – A tragic incident unfolded on Friday as a police officer in Oakland, California was fatally shot while responding to a burglary report at a marijuana dispensary. Tuan Le, 36, was one of the officers who arrived at the scene near Jack London Square, following an earlier burglary at the same location. The officer was in plainclothes and driving an unmarked car when an individual opened fire, hitting him multiple times.
As a result of the shooting, Officer Le was rushed to a hospital but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries, leaving behind his wife, mother, and fellow Oakland Police Department colleagues. The interim Police Chief, Darren Allison, confirmed that no officers returned fire and announced that no immediate arrests were made following the incident, although investigators were pursuing substantial evidence.
Officer Le, who was from Saigon, Vietnam, and became a naturalized citizen in 2001, had recently graduated from the police academy and devoted his service to the West Oakland community. Described as kind and dedicated to improving the safety of his community, his tragic death was mourned by Mayor Sheng Thao who condemned the senseless act of violence. Barry Donelan, President of the Oakland Police Officers’ Association, expressed pride in the officers’ response and their determination to bring the perpetrator to justice.
This unfortunate event marked the 54th death of an Oakland officer in the line of duty, amidst a surge in violent crime driven by robberies involving the use of firearms. Such statistics provide a sobering context to the dangers faced by law enforcement officers as they carry out their duties.