Crime & Safety
Oakland Police Officer Killed in the Line Of Duty Identified
Tuan Le, 36, was surrounded by his wife, mother and his fellow Oakland police officers at a hospital when he died at 8:44 a.m. Friday.
OAKLAND, CA — An Oakland Police Officer was shot in the line of duty early Friday morning. He died at Highland Hospital with his wife, his mother, and fellow officers at his side. Tuan Le was 36.
In a briefing at Oakland police headquarters later Friday, Interim Police Chief Darren Allison said officers initially responded around 1 a.m. to a report of a burglary at a marijuana dispensary but eventually left the scene, then returned at about 4:30 a.m. for a call of a second burglary at the same location.
Officers saw multiple people leaving the scene and at least one person opened fire multiple times, striking Le, who was working as a plainclothes officer and driving an unmarked vehicle.
He died at about 4 hours later.
"The dangers and demands of this profession are real and come with significant sacrifice," Allison said. "Sadly, today, one of our officers paid the ultimate sacrifice."
Le, who joined the Oakland police force in 2020 after graduating from its academy, was born in Vietnam before moving to Oakland and becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen on Sept. 11, 2001.
Le "will be remembered for his kindness, his smile, and the positive change he brought to the lives of those around him," the police department said in a statement. "He is a true hero who dedicated his life to making our community safer."
Police have not announced any arrests or released any information about the suspects in the shooting and dispensary break-in, though Allison at the afternoon briefing said investigators are following up on "a lot of actionable evidence."
During a preliminary investigation, police located multiple bullet casings.
No officers fired their weapons, the department said in a statement.
Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao called the killing a "senseless murder" and said the city will work "tirelessly" to identify and apprehend those responsible.
The flag at Oakland City Hall was lowered to half-staff in memory of the officer.
Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered flags at the State Capitol flown at half-staff in honor of "a courageous public servant."
Anyone with video evidence or other information is asked to call the OPD homicide unit at (510) 238-3821.
Bay City News contributed to this report.
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