Homicide of a Sacramento Police Officer

Homicide of a Sacramento Police Officer

For Immediate Release No. 20190620-084
Thursday, June 20, 2019

This press release is a summary of the facts known at this time, as this incident is actively being investigated. The information contained in the press release is subject to change. Additional details will be released as they become available.

On June 19, 2019, at approximately 11:43 a.m., the Sacramento Police Department received a call regarding a disturbance between a male and a female. Officers made contact with the involved female at a residence in the 3700 block of Esperanza Drive.

At approximately 5:41p.m. officers responded to a residence in the 200 block of Redwood Avenue to standby while the involved female gathered some belongings from a residence.

At approximately 6:10 p.m., officers on scene reported shots had been fired, and an officer was struck by gun fire. The suspect continued to fire multiple times and the officers believed the gun used by the suspect was a rifle type firearm.

At approximately 6:54 p.m., additional officers responded with an armored vehicle to rescue the officer that had been shot.

At approximately 6:59 p.m., the officer was transported to a local area hospital.

Officers remained on scene and secured a perimeter to contain the suspect who sporadically shot at officers. Throughout this prolonged event, multiple officers returned fire. Officers also evacuated nearby residents in the area.

Officers from the Crisis Negotiation Team eventually established communication with the suspect. Several hours later, at approximately 1:54 a.m., on June 20, 2019, the suspect surrendered and was safely taken into custody. Officers secured the scene for CSI and detectives.

The officer who was shot, Tara Christina O’Sullivan succumbed to her injuries after being transported to the hospital.

Update: the suspect surrendered and was safely taken into custody, investigators and CSI are still actively processing the scene at this time.

Officer O’Sullivan was hired by the Sacramento Police Department in January of 2018 as a Community Service Officer. In July of that same year, she entered our police academy as a police recruit and graduated from the academy on December 20, 2018.

 

“We are heartbroken for the loss of Tara O’Sullivan, an officer who served our community and the Sacramento Police Department with honor, integrity and commitment. Our hearts and thoughts are with her family, friends and colleagues during this tragic time, and we at the City of Sacramento share in their immense grief.”

-Howard Chan, Sacramento City Manager

“To Tara’s parents and family, and Tara’s fellow officers, I am so sorry. As a father I am grieving with you. As Mayor of the city she swore to protect, our city is heartbroken and we are here for you every step of the way.” -Mayor Darrell Steinberg

Over the next several days, Homicide Detectives, Internal Affairs, and Crime Scene Investigation Units will be at the scene to conduct an officer-involved shooting investigation. As part of the department’s protocol, this incident is being investigated in conjunction with the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office, the Sacramento City Attorney’s Office and the City’s Office of Public Safety Accountability.

At this time, we have identified five officers who fired their duty weapons during this incident. These five officers each have between three and five years experience with our department. All were placed on paid administrative leave per standard protocol.

 

KCRA Audio from police radio captured the moments an officer was shot when a gunman opened fire in a north Sacramento home Wednesday evening. Several officers were at a home near Edgewater Road and Redwood Avenue to help a woman gather her belongings when the man opened fire. See the full story in the video above.