California Police Sergeant Killed; Suspect in Custody

A Hayward police sergeant was shot and killed early Wednesday by a suspect during a traffic stop, authorities said.

Sgt. Scott Lunger was shot by someone in a white pickup truck, which he had he stopped because it was being driven erratically, police said. A second officer returned fire, said police Lt. Eric Krimm.

"The resulting part of that traffic stop is devastating," he said.

A white 2001 pickup truck that apparently was involved in the incident was later found in East Oakland, the driver's side scarred by bullet holes.

A person of interest was in a secure location, police officials said. They did not elaborate or say whether that person was in a hospital.

The incident began about 3:15 a.m. when Lunger spotted a white Chevrolet pickup truck being driven erratically near Myrtle and Lion streets, according to police radio traffic.

"He's swerving all over the road," the sergeant told a dispatcher, who sent a second officer to back up the sergeant.

Lunger, 48, tried to pull the truck over, but the driver refused to stop immediately. The driver came to a stop at Lion and Kiwanis Street, and a confrontation ensued.

"Shots fired! Shots fired!" an officer yelled on the radio. "White Chevy Silverado truck! He's still going!"

The officer then reported, "Send me Fire," a reference to the Fire Department. "My partner down -- partner down."

"Who's down?" the dispatcher asked.

"Sgt. Lunger's down," the officer responded.

Lunger was taken to Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, where he died. He leaves behind two daughters.

At a news conference at Hayward City Hall, police Capt. Mark Koller thanked the community for its outpouring of support.

"Unfortunately, a police officer's job is very dangerous, and as we can see today, there's nothing routine about what our officers do." Koller said.

"There are times where they have no idea who they're stopping," he said. "It could be for a traffic violation, as we've been led to believe today, and the tragedy happens immediately, without warning. It's a very difficult job. Our officers know that, and we try to prepare them for these things."

Koller said of Lunger's slaying, "We are working through this. We will work through this. The men and women of our organization are strong."

Koller said the slain sergeant was "a very well-liked, very well-respected sergeant police officer, loved his job, he was always out there, eager to get involved. He was engaged in the community from the start. He was a very, very good friend of mine. It's a tremendous loss to myself and to our organization and to our community."

Lunger was serving as a patrol sergeant. He had previously been a member and leader of the department's SWAT team and served in the gang unit, Koller said.

Scores of police vehicles and motorcycles surrounded the hospital where he was pronounced dead. An Alameda County coroner's van sat near the ambulance bay. Officers, some of their badges wrapped with black bands of mourning, consoled each other, looking downcast.

A bullet-riddled truck matching the description of the one involved in the incident was later found near 98th and Edes avenues in East Oakland. Authorities were securing the truck as evidence.

Alameda County sheriff's deputies and California Highway Patrol officers were assisting in the investigation.

At the shooting scene, CHP cars and yellow tape blocked off the neighborhood.

Maria Gonzalez was asleep in her home on Filbert Street when she was awakened by gunshots. "I heard four to six gunshots, and they sounded like two different guns," Gonzalez said in Spanish.

Sounds of sirens and a helicopter hovering overhead followed. But Gonzalez, who was frightened by the gunfire, never ventured out to look -- and had not left her home all morning.

"The only thing I saw was a helicopter from my kitchen window," she said. She was shocked when told that a police officer had died after being shot.

Another resident who didn't want to give his name said he heard four to five shots.

"Then it was a barrage of about 10 more shots," he said, adding that his first reaction was, "OK, maybe I better duck for fear of a stray bullet."

Lunger, who was promoted to sergeant about five years ago, is the first member of the Hayward Police Department to be killed in the line of duty since 1987, when an officer was stabbed to death by a suspect. Two other officers had been killed previously.

Carla Dardon showed up at Hayward City Hall for the news conference. She said she knew Lunger.

"He was such a good person. I feel devastated," Dardon said. "I don't know how to put it in words. I feel for the department, the community. All the bad rap the police have right now -- when we're in trouble, who are the first people we call? Them."

Tribune News Service