i say i dont lke police. dont mean i want them killed
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) ? A man threatening to commit suicide unleashed a barrage of gunfire on Northern California officers called to check on him, killing a 14-year veteran of the San Jose Police Department.
Scott Dunham, 57, fatally shot Officer Michael Johnson, 38, Tuesday night, launching an hours-long manhunt for the gunman and forcing nearby apartments to be evacuated. The search ended when Dunham was found dead early Wednesday on his apartment balcony, San Jose police spokesman Albert Morales said.
Police had no communication with the suspect between the time Johnson was shot about 6:45 p.m. Tuesday and when Dunham was found dead more than eight hours later, at 3:20 a.m. Wednesday. It was unclear if he killed himself or died when officers returned fire.
Police Chief Larry Esquivel said at a news conference early Wednesday that it was difficult to pinpoint Dunham's motive or mindset. A neighbor told KRON (
SAN JOSE OFFICER KILLED: Suspect Found Dead on Balcony | kron4.com ) that Dunham had recently lost his job. A niece also told the television station that her uncle had untreated mental health issues. Police classified him as intoxicated at the time.
"It's unfortunate that this person had the nerve, the audacity, to shoot at our officers that were responding to a call for service, for assistance," Esquivel said.
Officers approaching Dunham's apartment building were met with gunfire. After Johnson was shot, authorities swarmed the area in search of the shooter. Johnson was a field training officer, but he did not have a trainee with him at the time he was shot.
Officers, armored vehicles and a helicopter came from neighboring law enforcement agencies and the California Highway Patrol. At 1:30 a.m. officers used explosives to breach the apartment and then used a robot with a camera to check inside. Dunham was found dead about two hours later.
Man shoots, kills California officer who was checking on him - Yahoo News