Three Oakland, California Police Officers Killed in the Line of Duty

A fourth officer is reported to be in critical condition, and a fifth officer injured during the shooting was released with minor injuries.

File photo of Oakland Motorcycle Officers Courtesy: bikerlawblog.com

(OAKLAND, Calif.) - Three Oakland Police officers were shot to death Saturday in East Oakland. The tragic incident reportedly began at 1:00 p.m. during a traffic stop at 73rd and Hillside in East Oakland.

Two motorcycle officers were shot at the stop, with the gunman fleeing the scene. Other officers closed off the surrounding streets to traffic as dozens of Oakland Police reinforcements arrived.

They were joined by California Highway Patrol officers and deputies from the Alameda County Sheriff in the ensuing search.

About two hours later, the suspect barricaded himself in an apartment building at Hillside Street and 74th Avenue, and that is when the SWAT team went in.

As this happened, two other police offices were shot. The suspect was killed as the officers moved into the building.

Then word came down that in addition to losing the two motorcycle officers, one of the two officers at the second incident died.

The fourth officer is reported to be in critical condition, and a fifth officer injured during the shooting was released with minor injuries.

Five years have passed since an Oakland, California Police officer was killed in the line of duty. 39-year old William Seuis died in a hit-and-run crash in 2004.