September 22, 2021 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

OAKLAND - This morning two brave Oakland Police Officers were ambushed on a downtown street in broad daylight by a suspect apparently intent on killing them and any other residents that crossed his path. The suspect engaged the officers in a gun battle and one officer was shot. That officer was rescued by colleagues while other officers corralled the suspect. The suspect barricaded himself in a nearby building and officers were able to protect nearby residents. Ultimately, he was taken into custody.   

“It was only by mere inches that the bullet that struck an Oakland Police Officer this morning could have us presiding over a much worse outcome this evening. Two of Oakland’s finest were ambushed by a gunman on city streets and only their quick thinking, courage, and experience stopped more residents or officers from getting hurt. We are all proud of them and thankful the one officer shot will recover. Sadly, these gun attacks are likely to continue as Oakland’s defund-the-police-experiment shrinks the department and drives up crime,” said Oakland Police Officers' Association President Barry Donelan. 

Every officer who responded to today’s violent, fluid, and dynamic downtown scene showed why Oakland’s police officers are America’s most courageous and professional law enforcement officers.  

The Oakland Police Officers’ Association would also like to thank the staff, doctors, and nurses at Highland Hospital for taking such good care of our injured member. Also, thanks to the various outside law enforcement agencies that have entered the city today to help us and our residents.