1 suspect killed, CHP officer wounded in Temescal armed robbery attempt

Updated: 5:50 pm

A California Highway Patrol officer is in stable condition after exchanging fire with a suspect during an attempted robbery early this morning at the Walgreens on the corner of 51st Street and Telegraph Avenue.

CHP officers in a patrol car learned of the robbery early Wednesday morning after being flagged down by a Walgreens employee, said Oakland Police Department Public Information Officer Jeffrey Thomason. After being told that two men were inside robbing the Temescal neighborhood store, one of the responding CHP officers radioed for support. A second CHP vehicle soon arrived at the back of the store, and several officers from the Oakland Police Department arrived at the front, Thomason said.

The CHP officers at the rear heard a loud banging sound inside the store, and as they approached to investigate the disturbance, a man—whom police would only describe as an adult African-American—confronted them with his gun drawn, said Thomason. The CHP officers exchanged fire with the man, and one officer was hit several times, Thomason said. He did not offer further information on the officer’s injuries.

After shooting the CHP officer, the suspect ran to the front of the store where Oakland police officers shot and killed him, Thomason said. The suspect has not yet been identified but police believe he is responsible for other robberies, Thomason said.

At a press conference Wednesday afternoon, OPD Deputy Chief Jeffrey Israel said investigators have identified at least one other person suspected of participating in the attempted robbery, but said that man hasn’t been charged or arrested. He is being detained at the station, and police are still waiting to interview him, said Thomason.

Thomason said he did not know whether the other people who were inside the store during the robbery are also still being detained. He said he believes the Walgreens employees have been interviewed and released.