Sheng Thao can't be happy, some of us riders simply known this Vietnamese

[theking]

..cop killed in the line of duty as Tuna:

Oakland PD officer killed in line of duty identified

An Oakland police officer was shot and killed in the line of duty Friday morning near Jack London Square. The suspects responsible for the officer’s death remain at-large, investigators said.

“As we mourn, rest assured that we are also determined to bring this cop killer to justice,” Oakland Police Officers’ Association President Barry Donelan said.

The slain undercover officer was identified as Officer Tuan Le. “Officer Le was surrounded by his wife, mother, and members of his OPD family when he died. He is a true hero who dedicated his life to making our community safer,” the Oakland Police Department wrote.

Mayor Sheng Thao said, “This senseless act of violence against a member of our police force, the guardians of our City, will not go unanswered. Oakland will collaborativel y and tirelessly work with our law enforcement partners at the local, state, and federal levels to identify and bring
to justice those responsible for this assault on our city and the tragic loss of our officer.”

[theking]

OAKLAND, Calif. - At his day job, he creates sketches of suspects and on his time off he uses his skills to honor slain officers.

As the Oakland police family mourns the loss of their colleague and friend, 36-year-old Officer Tuan Le, shot and killed while responding to a burglary at a cannabis dispensary on December 29, a fellow officer who never met Le, is honoring his memory with a digital sketch.

"These are people."

It’s something he’s done time after time.

"They’re human beings."

The artist uses their likeness as a tribute to their sacrifice.

"They’re officers who put their lives on the line every day."

In 8 years, forensic artist and Philadelphia Police Officer Jonny Castro has created about 1,400 of what he calls portraits of valor.

His subjects are slain officers, including K-9s, military Veterans, other first responders like firefighters, and civilian victims of crime.

His motivation is helping others heal.

"It’s a nice feeling to know when you’ve lost somebody that there are other people out there that are thinking about you that are trying to provide you comfort in probably the worst time of your life," Castro said.

The Army combat Veteran and 18-year police veteran knows all too well what it’s like to lose a teammate after serving in Iraq and on the police force.

"Trying to remember them is important," Castro said.

When he got word of Officer Le’s killing, he got to work.

"I’ve spoken with members of Oakland PD that knew Tuan," Castro said, including an officer who worked alongside Le the day he was killed.

Castro says an enlarged version of this portrait will be on display at Officer Le’s funeral.

It’s something he does for every life he pays tribute to.

"These officers have husbands, wives, daughters, sons that they’re leaving behind and, hopefully, these stories, when they read them, these people will understand that, and they’ll remember them also."

Castro is also shipping prints of his artwork to Officer Le’s family, in addition to the large portrait that will be on display at this funeral.

Arrangements have not yet been announced.

Castro told KTVU a member of the Oakland Police Department did ask to have a portrait of Le made, but Castro was already in the process of making one after hearing about the tragic news.

Every portrait of a fallen officer he creates is provided for free.

[theking]

Several Arrests in Connection to Burglary That Preceded Officer Tuan Le’s Murder
Multiple arrests have been made in connection with Oakland Police Officer Tuan Le's murder.

Several arrests in connection to a burglary that preceded OPD Officer Tuan Le’s Murder.

Oakland police sources tell KTVU that multiple arrests have been made in connection with the burglary that led to the shooting. But at this time, there’s no official word that the person who fired the gun that killed Officer Le has been arrested.

[theking]

Dude was really full of life, sad to see someone like that go:

[theking]

Dude could do knee draggin too... :

[theking]

Suspects in Oakland officer's slaying appear in court




Several suspects charged in connection with a cannabis burglary and shooting that killed Oakland police Officer Tuan Le made their first court appearances Thursday.

The alleged gunman, Mark Sanders, turned his back to news media cameras in Alameda County Superior Court in Oakland as rows of officers in street clothes looked on in silence. He wore a red jail jumpsuit, which means he's being held in protective custody.

Also in protective custody is the accused getaway driver, Allen Starr Brown. Each have been charged by District Attorney Pamela Price's office with murder and the special circumstance of drive-by murder. If convicted, they could face life in prison without parole.

"I stand ready to defend Mr. Sanders against these charges," defense attorney Annie Beles said outside court.

Beles expressed condolences for the officer's death and said her client is presumed innocent and facing serious charges, including "I believe, the first special circumstance that has been charged by this administration in the year that Ms. Price has been district attorney."

At a news conference with Oakland police and Mayor Sheng Thao on Wednesday night, Price said, "I will leverage the full weight of my office against the people who we believe ruthlessly and wantonly murdered an officer of the law."

Sanders, Brown and Sebron Russell have all been charged with breaking into a cannabis business three times near 5th and Embarcadero early Friday morning.


Police say Officer Le and his partner were working undercover when their unmarked truck came under fire in the parking lot of the business. Le threw the pickup in reverse and sped away, but police say Sanders and Brown chased the truck and again opened fire, killing Le, who graduated from the Oakland police academy in 2020.

Court records show the three were identified with the help of cellphone data. Police also reviewed Sanders' social media accounts.

Sanders' sister and friends declined to comment after the hearing, as did Brown's family.

"At this time, she's bringing most of the charges that she should bring. There are others that a lot of people say that she should bring against the defendants," said KTVU legal analyst Michael Cardoza.

Prosecutors did not charge Sanders nor Brown of the special circumstance of murder of a police officer, as the defense could argue their clients did not know they were going after police, as the officers were in plainclothes and undercover.

[theking]

The OPD lost a good person. Even though Tuna was a newer officer, he just has that kind of impact on those around him:

[theking]

Blind folded those apes and put a bullet in their bodies so they can die slowly works as punishments for me. Much cheaper and saves time and resources compared to the alternative if they get capital punishment.

[theking]

Like I've said, Tuna was just a stand up guy:

[theking]

Looks like crime was taught and ran in the family for a long time?  :

Mother of suspect accused of killing Oakland officer Tuan Le released from jail

The mother of the man suspected of killing Oakland police officer Tuan Le was released from jail Monday, on the day she was set to be arraigned after her arrest on accessory charge in the officer's death.

Alameda County jail records show 48-year-old Felicia Williams was no longer in custody after her arrest on Thursday. She is the mother of Mark Sanders, who investigators suspect fired the shot that killed Le.

WATCH: Heartfelt tributes paid to slain Oakland police officer Tuan Le at public memorial

Bay Area News Group reported Williams was released from custody after prosecutors declined to file charges in time to keep her in custody under state law. Williams was arrested for allegedly helping her son leave the state and destroying evidence but she had not been formally charged as of Monday evening and has no date to appear in court, the report said.