Fourth cop dies in California shootings

OAKLAND, Calif., March 22 (UPI) -- A fourth police officer shot during a pair of deadly confrontations with an Oakland, Calif., gunman has died, officials told CNN.

A spokesman for California Gov. Arnold Schwarzengger told the U.S. broadcaster the police death toll Saturday -- one of the deadliest police shootings in California history -- had risen to four.

The victims included Officer John Hege, 41, who had been hospitalized in critical condition, and three Oakland police sergeants, identified as Erv Romans, 43, Dan Sakai, 35, and Mark Dunakin, 41. A fifth officer was treated for a minor gunshot wound.

Acting Oakland Police Chief Howard Jordan identified the suspect as Lovelle Mixon, 27, of Oakland, who had been on parole for assault with a deadly weapon. Mixon was shot and killed by a SWAT team member during a gunfight a nearby apartment complex where he had hidden, CNN said.

Dunakin was reported to be one of two motorcycle officers shot just after 1 p.m. PDT during a traffic stop. Romans and Sakai were shot about 3:20 p.m. during an exchange of gunfire as they tried to apprehend the suspect after he had been traced to the the complex.

Police told the Los Angeles Times that when SWAT officers entered the building, Mixon immediately fired with an assault weapon, hitting three of them. SWAT officers "returned fire in defense of their lives," Jordan said.

Schwarzenegger issued a statement late Saturday saying it was "a tragic day for law enforcement officers everywhere."

"All four officers dedicated their lives to public safety and selflessly worked to protect the people of Oakland," Schwarzenegger said.

Saturday marked the first time in the history of Oakland that four police officers were killed in the line duty on the same day, the Oakland Tribune said.