On Tuesday night, a police Officer from San Jose was shot and killed initiating the shutdown of several blocks of the city as police went after to get hold of the suspected gunman, reports authority.
San Jose Police Chief Larry Esquivel said that the incident started around 6:50 p.m. when officers arrived at an apartment in east San Jose on reports that a man was drunk and possibly armed. Police later identified him as Scott Dunham.
Dunham, 57, was downhearted that day. He had access to weapons which also included a rifle, so a family member was afraid he might end up hurting someone.
When the police officers approached at the apartment complex, police reported that Dunham opened fire, most likely from his patio or porch.
An officer who served the department for 12 long years had been struck by the bullet and died on the scene.
Esquivel said that other officers returned the fire without being completely sure if Dunham was struck.
“This is a difficult day for us and our community,” Esquivel said. “I can assure you that the person responsible for this act will be apprehended.”
Dozens of police officers and several law enforcement agencies have responded to the scene.
It was reported that as of late Tuesday, Dunham, was believed to have been inside the apartment. Police have been in contact with his wife who is not inside the apartment, according to Esquivel.
Police were taking the precaution of evacuating the neighbors before proceeding to detain Dunham.
“This has been San Jose’s darkest hour,” said San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, thinking of the time he had met with the family of the deceased officer.
Esquivel said that until the family gives the department ‘proper notification’ the identity of the man will not be released.
This is the 12th San Jose Police Department officer to have been killed in the line of duty since the establishment of the department in the year 1849. The last time any such incident happened with the department was in 2001.
