San Jose Police Officer Fatally Shot: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

(JamesTNixon/Instagram)

(JamesTNixon/Instagram)

A police officer was fatally shot Tuesday night in San Jose, California, police said on Twitter.

The shooting happened at about 7 p.m. local time in East San Jose in an area near Umbarger and Senter roads, the Mercury News reported.

Officer Michael Johnson was killed and the suspect was not taken into custody, though police said officers returned fire. Scott Dunham, the alleged shooter, was later found dead in his apartment after a standoff that last several hours.

Here’s what you need to know:


1. Police Used an Explosive Device to Breach the Suspect’s Apartment

Police have identified the suspect as 57-year-old Scott Dunham.

Dunham was found dead on the apartment’s balcony at about 3:30 a.m. after police used an explosive device to breach the apartment.

Officers had returned fire after Dunham shot at them. There was no other reports of gunfire, so Dunham may have been killed during the initial incident.

The officers were responding to a call reporting a man with mental issues making threats.

The 911 caller reported an intoxicated man in his 50s with a gun to his head, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

The newspaper reports that the suspect had threatened his wife and said he would have killed her if she stayed in their apartment. The woman left the apartment and called one of her children, who called police, the Chronicle reported.


2. The Officer Was Shot From a Balcony

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the gunman fired at the officer from the balcony of an apartment building.

“Officer down! Officer down!,” could be heard over the police radio, the newspaper reported.

Johnson was found in the street suffering from gunshot wounds, according to the Chronicle.

Police believe the man was armed with a high-powered rifle.


3. The Officer Was a 14-Year Veteran

Johnson served on the force for 14 years.

In a tweet, the city’s mayor, Sam Liccardo, said Johnson was engaged. He said he met with the family.

During a press conference, Liccardo said, “This is San Jose’s darkest hour.” Police Chief Larry Esquivel said, “it’s a sad day for law enforcement and the police department and the community.”


4. Police Shut Down the Area

Officers swarmed the area to search for the suspect, shutting down area streets and telling residents to shelter in place. SWAT teams could be seen in the area, according to the Chronicle and Mercury reports.

Police responded from all over the Bay Area to assist at the scene.


5. The Officer Is the First Killed in the Line of Duty in San Jose Since 2001

Officer Jeffrey Fontana, san jose officer killed

Officer Jeffrey Fontana (San Jose Police)

The officer’s line of duty death is the first since Officer Jeffrey Fontana was killed Oct. 28, 2001, according to the department’s website.

Fontana, 24, was killed during a traffic stop. DeShawn Campbell was convicted of murder Fontana’s death.

Johnson and Fontana were in the same academy class, according to the Mercury News.