A Northern California police officer was shot to death after responding to a call about a man threatening to commit suicide.
The San Jose Police Department said responding officers were met with gunfire yesterday as they approached an apartment building and that a veteran officer was struck and pronounced dead at the scene. The officer was not identified.
Officers closed off several streets in East San Jose as they searched for the shooter.
Dozens of officers swarmed the area to find the gunman, and nearby homes were evacuated. Officers and equipment, including armoured vehicles and a helicopter, were summoned from neighbouring police agencies, the San Jose Mercury News reported.
Residents were advised to stay inside as the search intensified, but dozens of people still gathered near the scene, watching as police helicopters circled overhead.
Condolences from police departments throughout California began pouring in on Twitter late yesterday.
The last San Jose police officer killed in the line of duty was a rookie officer who was shot during a vehicle stop on October 28, 2001.
