California Cop Fatally Shot by Suspect Threatening Suicide

The officer was a 14-year veteran of the San Jose PD.

ByABC News
March 25, 2015, 7:41 AM

— -- A San Jose, California, police officer was fatally shot Tuesday night by a man threatening to kill himself, officials said, adding that the suspect was later found dead inside his home.

Police officers responded to a call at about 6:45 p.m. local time of a man with a gun threatening to kill himself, city officials said in a news conference Tuesday night.

When officers arrived at the man’s home, they were met with gunfire, and 14-year veteran officer Michael Johnson was shot and pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Police evacuated neighbors late Tuesday, as the suspect was believed to still be in his residence, San Jose Police Chief Larry Esquivel said.

Police identified the suspect as Scott Dunham, 57. They also said the call to police was made by a relative of Dunham's who was worried about him.

"This has been San Jose's darkest hour," San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said in the same news conference.

Officials did not say whether Dunham was killed by police or died by his own hand.