Suspect Lovelle Mixon was slain later Saturday afternoon in a gunfight with police that left two more officers dead. Thomason identified those officers as Sergeant Ervin Romans, 43, and Sergeant Daniel Sakai, 35.
Oakland police said that never in the department's history had so many officers been killed in the line of duty in a single day.
The violence began when Hege and Dunakin, both on motorcycles, stopped a car in east Oakland just after 1 p.m., Thomason said. The driver opened fire, killing Dunakin and gravely wounding Hege.
The gunman then fled on foot, police said, leading to a manhunt by dozens of Oakland police, California Highway Patrol officers, and Alameda County sheriff deputies. Streets were roped off and an area of east Oakland was closed to traffic.
About 3:30 p.m., officers got an anonymous tip that the gunman was inside a nearby apartment building. A SWAT team entered the building and the gunman opened fire, police said. Romans and Sakai were killed and a third officer was grazed by a bullet, police said.
Officers returned fire, killing Mixon, Howard Jordan, acting Oakland police chief, said.
"It's in these moments that words are extraordinarily inadequate," said Mayor Ron Dellums at a somber news conference announcing the slayings.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered flags at the state capitol flown at half-staff yesterday in honor of the slain officers. Schwarzenegger went to Oakland to meet with Dellums and police department members.
"All four officers dedicated their lives to public safety and selflessly worked to protect the people of Oakland," Schwarzenegger said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those lost, the Oakland police department, and law enforcement officers throughout California during this difficult time."
Police said Mixon used different weapons in each incident. One gun was used at the first scene and an assault rifle was used at the apartment building where he was hiding.
"[Mixon] was on parole and he had a warrant out for his arrest for violating that parole. And he was on parole for assault with a deadly weapon," said Oakland Police Deputy Chief Jeffery Israel.
Police said they did not know why the officers initially stopped the suspect, but said it apparently was a routine traffic stop. Thomason said Mixon had an extensive criminal history and was wanted on a no-bail warrant.
