DOJ Investigating Newark Officer Involved Shooting

NEWARK, CA — The California Department Of Justice is investigating an officer involved shooting that took place in Newark last week.

The shooting, which left one person dead and one hurt occurred Thursday, April 13 at the Chase Suite Hotel at 39150 Cedar Boulevard when a carjacking suspect vehicle entered the city of Newark and officers, including members of the Southern Alameda County Major Crimes Task Force and Fremont Police Department, conducted what a Newark Police Department news release referred to as a "high-risk stop."

At least two officers fired their weapons.

Immediately after the shooting occurred, officers rendered aid and summoned emergency medical personnel, but the suspect did not survive and a second suspect was transported to a local area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

"A weapon was recovered from the scene," police said.

Related: 1 Dead, 1 Hurt In Newark Police Shooting

Newark police took to Twitter Friday, April 14, where they announced the weapon recovered was identified as an Airsoft pistol designed to look like a Beretta M9.

The same day that Newark PD made its announcement regarding the gun, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced in a news release that the California Department of Justice, was also investigating the incident and upon completion of its investigation would turn all findings over to the DOJ's Special Prosecutions Section within the Criminal Law Division for independent review.

The DOJ investigation is pursuant to CA Assembly Bill 1506, which states the DOJ is required to investigate all incidents of an officer-involved shooting resulting in the death of an unarmed civilian in the state. Before AB1506 took effect in July 2021, investigations into officer involved shootings had been primarily handled by local law enforcement agencies and the state’s 58 district attorneys.

Independent investigations are being conducted by the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office and the Newark Police Department’s Professional Standards and Training Unit.

The identity of the suspect has not yet been released.

Anyone with information on the case should contact Newark Police Department Investigations Sgt. Yama Homayoun at 510-578-4920 or by email at Yama.Homayoun@newark.org.

Information can be left anonymously on the “Anonymous Tip” hotline at 510-578-4965.