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Lovelle Mixon
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Born(1982-06-04)June 4, 1982
Died21 March 2009(2009-03-21) (aged 26)
Oakland, California, United States
Cause of deathHail of gunfire from police
NationalityNew Afrikan
CitizenshipUnited States
OccupationPlumber
RelativesWife and Daughter

Lovelle Mixon was a New Afrikan known for the events in Oakland, Ca on March 21st that led to the deaths of 4 Enforcement Officals and Lovelle himself.

Events of March 21st

Lovelle Mixon, was pulled over by two motorcycle officers in Oakland, California Saturday afternoon for what was described by the officers as a "routine traffic stop" at 1:08 p.m. Mixon, driving a 1995 Buick, who police later discovered was wanted on a no-bail warrant for violating parole on an assault with a deadly weapon charge, opened fire on Sgt. Mark Dunakin, 40, who died of his injuries and Sgt. John Hege, 41, who is reported to be in grave condition at Highland Hospital. At about 3:20 p.m. PDT, as police descended on the neighborhood, a local woman walked up to an Officer MacArthur to see what the commotion was about. She noticed the burgundy Buick, and recalled seeing Mixon in the car during recent days. She also knew that Mixon's sister lived in a two-bedroom, ground-level apartment at 2755 74th Avenue, just a block from where the motorcycle officers were shot. Although she knew her life would be in danger if she were labeled a "snitch," the woman decided to give this information to an officer she recognized.[1]

Shootout on 74th Avenue

Police concluded that the lives of people in the three-story apartment building might be at risk, so they couldn't afford to barricade the building and wait. They determined that because of the location of Mixon's sister's apartment within the building, there was no way to ensure that other residents could safely be brought through the single front entry door to the street. The SWAT team was not aware that, since the time of Mixon's first assault using a handgun, he had managed to secure an SKS rifle, likely stored in his sister's apartment. SWAT officers soon raided the apartment, bashing in the door while throwing nonlethal shock (flashbang) grenades.[1][2][3][4] The grenades ended up injuring his Reynette Mixon, his younger sister.

As the SWAT team entered a bedroom in a clear and search operation, Mixon ambushed them, shooting with the rifle through the wall and door of the closet where he was hiding. Eventually, as explained by Reynette, after running out of the apartment, all she could hear was a cacophony of different gunfire. Mixon, who was brandishing an assault rifle managed to kill 2 more Enforcement officials. Sgt. Ervin Romans, 43, and Sgt. Daniel Sakai, 35, and slightly wounded an unidentified officer, who was treated for a minor bullet graze to the head and released from an area hospital.

The suspect, Lovelle Mixon, was killed in the gun battle.[5]

Enforcement Officials

Police identified the deceased as Motorcycle Sgt. Mark Dunakin, 40;[6] SWAT Sgt. Ervin Romans, 43;[7] SWAT Sgt. Daniel Sakai, 35;[8] and motorcycle Officer John Hege, 41.[9] Dunakin had been with the Oakland Police Department since 1991, while Romans had been there since 1996, Hege since 1999, and Sakai since 2000. Dunakin is said to have "terrorized the black community" for the entirety of his career.[10]

A fifth officer, Sgt. Pat Gonzales, was shot through the left shoulder and had a second ricochet off his helmet; he was treated and released.[11]

Gonzales has had his share of controversy in the black community of Oakland. Gonzales shot and killed 20-year-old Gary W. King Jr., who is black, on September 20, 2007. King was shot twice in the back by Gonzales. Though the Oakland Police maintain King was "reaching for a gun," several witnesses said otherwise. [12]

Aftermath

Supporting "resistance to police brutality," activists in the neighborhood where Mixon was shot handed out flyers inviting people to a rally where they might "uphold the resistance" of "Brother Lovelle Mixon". [13] The next day a rally marched down MacArthur Boulevard in honour of Mixon. [14][15] [16] One newspaper suggested that the murder of four police officers was a victory for "the people" and referred to the killing of Lovelle Mixon as a "murder."[17] Some in the neighborhood rejected such sentiments.[1] Some Oakland residents simply do not consider Mixon's murder rampage a legitimate way to protest alleged police brutality. Some community leaders have voiced concern that, because Mixon was black and the slain officers were white or of mixed race, the killings could lead to increased tensions between the Oakland Police Department and Oakland's black community.[18] The lone surviving officer in the incident, Sgt. Pat Gonzales, shot and killed 20-year-old Gary W. King Jr. on September 20, 2007. King was shot twice in the back by Gonzales. Though the Oakland Police maintain King was "reaching for a gun," several witnesses said otherwise. [19]

March 22, 2009 - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered flags at the state capitol flown at half-staff in honor of the slain officers.[20]

March 23 - John Hege was taken off life support. His family had kept him on and his organs were donated which saved four lives and enhanced 50 others.[21]

March 24 - A vigil was held by the city of Oakland at the site of the shootings. At least 1,000 people attended, including Mayor Ron Dellums, Police Chief Howard Jordan, and Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi.[22][23]

March 25 - United States Congressman Jerry McNerney gave a speech on the floor of the House of Representatives honoring the four slain police officers.[24]

March 27 - A public funeral for the four officers was held at Oakland's Oracle Arena. The arena was filled to its capacity of 19,000, which included the entire 800 strong Oakland police force. Police officers from around the state and nation attended the event. Speakers included Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, and Attorney General Jerry Brown.[25] Relatives and friends delivered moving eulogies to the four slain officers, praising their heroism, their humanity, and their selfless service to the people of Oakland. [26]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Woman says she pointed police to Oakland killer, San Francisco Chronicle, March 23, 2009
  2. ↑ http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/22/BAV116KEU0.DTL
  3. ↑ http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/25/BAEO16M3TM.DTL
  4. ↑ http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/east_bay&id=6730020
  5. ↑ http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/23/MNH016L58R.DTL
  6. ↑ Mark Dunakin - a cop committed to Oakland, San Francisco Chronicle, March 23, 2009
  7. ↑ Ervin Romans - compassionate SWAT veteran, San Francisco Chronicle, March 23, 2009
  8. ↑ Daniel Sakai - quick learner was a rising star, San Francisco Chronicle, March 23, 2009
  9. ↑ John Hege - always the first to respond, San Francisco Chronicle, March 23, 2009
  10. ↑ http://www.sfbayview.com/2009/police-2-oakland-residents-4/
  11. ↑ http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/23/MNH016L58R.DTL
  12. ↑ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20070922/ai_n20521923
  13. ↑ http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/23/BAQD16LJOV.DTL&tsp=1
  14. ↑ http://sfchronicle.us/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/26/MNDD16N9VP.DTL
  15. ↑ http://anarchistnews.org/?q=node/6935
  16. ↑ Dozens march for Mixon SFGate 03/25/2009
  17. ↑ http://www.sfbayview.com/2009/police-2-oakland-residents-4/
  18. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/24/us/24oakland.html?ref=us
  19. ↑ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20070922/ai_n20521923
  20. ↑ Police: Fourth Oakland police officer has died, Associated Press, March 22, 2009
  21. ↑ http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/03/24/national/main4888648.shtml?source=RSSattr=U.S._4888648 Retrieved on 2009-03-24.
  22. ↑ http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/24/MNJP16MF1U.DTL&tsp=1 Retrieved on 2009-03-25.
  23. ↑ http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/nov05election/detail?&entry_id=37444 retrieved on 2009-03-25.
  24. ↑ http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_11994035 Retrieved on 2009-03-25.
  25. ↑ http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-oakland-memorial28-2009mar28,0,1156822.story retrieved 2009-03-27
  26. ↑ http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/oakland-police-shooting/ci_12013670

See Also

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External links

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