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California police officer killed at scene of pot shop burglary

December 30, 2023

Officer Tuan Le

By JOSH FRIEDMAN

A suspect or suspects who allegedly burglarized a marijuana dispensary in Oakland early Friday morning opened fire, striking and killing a plain-clothed police officer who was driving an unmarked vehicle. 

Just before 1 a.m., dispatchers sent Oakland police officers to the 400 block of Embarcadero to investigate reports of a burglary in progress. Both uniformed and plainclothes officers arrived at the scene to conduct burglary suppression, Oakland police say.

Upon arrival, officers found evidence of a burglary at the dispensary. But, the suspect or suspects had already fled the scene. 

Shortly after 4:30 a.m. Oakland police received a report of a second burglary in progress at the same location. Officers arrived at the scene and observed multiple individuals exiting the business. 

As the suspects fled, at least one began shooting at plain-clothed officers. Gunfire struck Officer Tuan Le, 36, critically injuring him. 

Other officers transported Le to an area hospital. At 8:44 a.m., Le succumbed to his injuries with his wife, mother and members of the Oakland Police Department by his side.

Oakland homicide investigators came out to the scene and took over the investigation. The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Team also came out the scene and is assisting with the investigation. 

During the preliminary investigation, officers located multiple shell casings. No officers discharged their firearms during the incident, police say. 

No arrests have been made. It is unclear if investigators have identified any of the suspects. 

Born in Saigon, Vietnam, Officer Le moved to Oakland and became a naturalized United States citizen on Sept. 11, 2001, according to the city of Oakland.

Le served as a police officer for nearly four years, all with the Oakland force. He served as the Community Resource Officer in West Oakland for the last two years.

His death marks the 54th Oakland police officer killed in the line of duty.


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This is the way.


-1

Marijuana should be legalized at the federal level. Take it off schedule one. All Americans should have freedom of choice when it comes to the plants they want to ingest.


-3

So, it follows that you would likewise include ectasy, methamphetamine, cocaine, opium and heroin since they also are derived, wholly or in part, from plants.


0

Let’s put that up for a vote. If enough people in America want that, maybe it should happen. Maybe it’s time to get the government out of these private matters. The government shouldn’t be able to control my brain or anyone’s. Sorry.


-1

Sheer idiocy. You and so many others inclined to the “if it feels good, do it” philosophy aren’t responsible enough to live in a world where meth, cocaine, heroin and other drugs are legal. Selfish stupidity fails to recognize that drug use/abuse and addiction never remains a “private matter”, there are almost always children and other innocent people victimized as a result of someone’s irresponsible drug consumption behavior. ALWAYS! Go ahead, put drug legalization to a vote. It will fail as long as there are enough responsible citizens who recognize addictive drugs are an anathema to a humane, orderly, civil society.


0

Drug culture is a cancerous rot that places a society on the path to depravity and suicide. This young man became an American citizen at age 14 and chose to be one of those rare & brave champions for order in a city known for its misgovernance, nihilism and decay. Thanks, CCN, for allowing your readers to voice homage to a good man rather than airing despicable depraved exuberance for his murder.


7

One of the good guys, doing the right thing. This is tragic.


33

So sad. Another life lost and another family devastated by the insanity of legalizing this deadly skunkweed. So many lives being destroyed.


15

But what about all the government employees that got huge raises based on the multi millions budgeted from the tax revenue, nevermind the actual revenue from it was far short of that projected, and since the raises were already given entities are just going to have to increase other taxes, fees, and water bills, to pay for the raises.


-15

What…? A family is devastated and you comment on government employee raises…

Really?


14

In case you missed it my reply was not regarding the tragedy of the lose of life but to the joke made of “legalizing this deadly shunkweed” and pointing out why government wanted to do it so badly, plain greed, the real reason behind this tragedy.


4

I didnt realize this was the first office killed during a burglary, it must be the type of store….


-17