OAKLAND, Calif. – An undercover police officer in Oakland, California, was tragically killed in the line of duty while investigating a burglary. Officer Tuan Le, 36, was shot and fatally wounded during a break-in at a business in the city’s waterfront entertainment district. The shooter remains at large, and two suspects connected to the burglary are in custody.
The incident occurred while Officer Le and a team of plainclothes officers were working to crack down on burglaries in Jack London Square. Responding to an alarm at a cannabis dispensary, the officers encountered a group of assailants, one of whom fired shots at them, hitting Officer Le while he was in the driver’s seat of an unmarked squad car. Despite efforts to save his life, Officer Le succumbed to his injuries at Highland Hospital in Oakland.
Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao called for unity and urged the community to support Officer Le’s family during this tragic time. The law enforcement community in Oakland is devastated by the loss of Officer Le, who was remembered for his kindness, his smile, and the positive impact he had on those around him.
Officer Le, who was born in Saigon, Vietnam, in 1987, and immigrated to Oakland as a child, became a naturalized citizen on September 11, 2001. He joined the Oakland Police Department in 2019 and was known for his dedication to making the community safer.
Governor Gavin Newsom ordered flags at the State Capitol to be flown at half-staff in honor of Officer Le. Le is survived by his wife and his mother.
Officer Le’s death marks a tragic loss for the entire Oakland community. The deadly violence that has been experienced in recent years has no place in Alameda County. The law enforcement community is committed to finding those responsible for this assault and bringing them to justice. The entire state mourns the loss of a courageous public servant.
This marks the 54th killing of an Oakland police officer in the line of duty, and the first since March 21, 2009.