Extra

Vigil for Slain Officers Set for Tuesday

Bay City News
Sunday March 22, 2009 - 02:33:00 PM

The Oakland City Council and Mayor Ron Dellums will hold a vigil Tuesday night in honor of the Oakland police officers shot to death Saturday afternoon by a suspect who was also fatally wounded. 

Sgt. Mark Dunakin, 40, Sgt. Ervin Romans, 43, and Sgt. Daniel Sakai, 35, died Saturday in two separate but related shootings. Officer John Hege, 41, died Sunday. 

The first shooting happened during a routine traffic stop Dunakin and Hege conducted at about 1:08 p.m. Saturday in the 7400 block of MacArthur Boulevard. 

The suspect, 26-year-old Lovelle Mixon, shot the officers and then fled to a nearby apartment complex. Police called in a SWAT team and attempted to enter the apartment after several attempts to communicate with Mixon. 

Upon the SWAT team's entry, Mixon fired on police with an assault weapon, killing Romans and Sakai. Mixon was also killed by officers' return fire. 

A fifth officer, who has not been identified, was treated for a gunshot wound and released from the hospital Saturday. 

Saturday was the first time three Oakland police officers have been killed in the line of duty in the same day, according to Thomason. 

The vigil Tuesday will be held at 6 p.m. at 74th Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard where the first shooting took place, City Council President Jane Brunner said. 

In addition, a condolence book will be available in the main lobby at City Hall from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday for members of the community to write their thoughts and pay their respects, according to Brunner.