NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Published: Wednesday, March 25, 2015, 12:55 AM
Updated: Wednesday, March 25, 2015, 6:55 AM
A police officer was fatally shot while responding to reports of a man threatening to commit suicide Tuesday night, according to the San Jose Police Department.
The suspect, identified as 57-year-old Scott Dunham, was found dead from a gunshot wound on his balcony following a tense eight-hour standoff with cops, police said. Officers said he was possibly injured during a shootout with police when they responded to the home around 7 p.m.
Officials later identified the officer who died as 14-year veteran Michael Johnson, according to KNTV-TV.
San Jose Police Dept.Police reportedly identifed the suspect as Scott Dunham, 57.
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San Jose Police DeptOfficer Michael Johnson was fatally shot.
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Scott Dunham (l.) shot and killed offcier Michael Johnson (r.), police said.
Officers responding to the 6:48 p.m. call were told that the man was drunk, depressed and possibly dangerous, San Jose Police Chief Larry Esquivel said at a press conference, according to the San Jose Mercury News.
When the cops showed up, the suspect fired at them from inside the house, fatally striking an officer, Esquivel said.
"Fellow officers returned fire, possibly, but unknown, striking the suspect," he said.
After the shoot-out, authorities cordoned off the neighborhood while they attempted to locate Dunham early Wednesday morning.
The officers spent eight hours searching for him and used explosives and a robot to break into the locked apartment. When cops finally made their way inside, they found the 57-year-old dead on his balcony, cops said.
It was not clear if Dunham died from a self-inflicted wound or if the possible injuries from the shoot-out killed him.
At the scene, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo told the media that the officer's death was "San Jose's darkest hour."
"Our thoughts are certainly with the women and men in harm's way," Liccardo said. "We mourn the loss of an officer who has paid the full measure."
Johnson’s death marked the San Jose Police Department's first line-of-duty death in 14 years. Jeffrey Fontana was shot and killed during an Oct. 28, 2001 traffic stop, the newspaper reported.
This is a developing story. Check back for more updates.
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