Full Notification

On January 31, 2016 at 3:08 pm, the Newark Police Communications Center received a 9-1-1call from a female reporting an adult male who was depressed and threatening to commit suicide at a residence in the 36500 block of Bridgepointe Drive in Newark, CA. Officers immediately responded and safely evacuated the female from the residence. Officers observed a 52 year-old Newark resident inside the residence holding a gun to his head and attempted to negotiate with him, without success, for approximately 40 minutes.

Eventually the male came out of the house and stood near the front door with a handgun. The male repeatedly threatened to commit suicide while officers tried to talk with him. An on-scene crisis negotiator continued to try and resolve the situation, but the male refused to put down the handgun; either holding it to his head, to his chest, or placing it in his mouth. After 20 tense minutes, the male put the gun down between his feet on the ground. The crisis negotiator believed the situation had deescalated from an imminent crisis, but unfortunately, the male refused to move away from the gun and continued to make suicidal threats. The male sat down beside the gun, picked it up, and became more agitated and demonstrative with the firearm. The male stood back up while the negotiator continued to try and deescalate the situation. The male again threatened to commit suicide and then pointed the handgun at officers and nearby citizens.

One officer fired his department-issued patrol rifle striking the male. Officers provided immediate medical treatment, but the male did not survive. None of the involved officers or neighboring residents were injured.

The officer who fired his weapon has been a law enforcement officer for more than 28 years. He has been placed on paid administrative leave, which is following our department policy. The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office has been notified and is conducting an investigation into the incident.

Newark Police Detectives are investigating the shooting with the assistance of the Union City Police Department and the Alameda County Sheriff's Office.

Police are continuing to investigate this incident. Please contact the Newark Police Department Investigations Unit Detective Sergeant David Higbee at (510) 578-4247 or information can be left anonymously on the “Silent Witness” hotline at (510)578-4965.

Commander Mike Carroll will be the point of contact for press inquiries. He can be reached at 510-578-4220 or via email at [email protected]