Hayward officer wounded, man killed in I-880 shooting

Bay City News

Saturday, December 2, 2006 10 35 PM


(12-02) 21:35 PDT HAYWARD -- A 7-year veteran of the Hayward Police Department remains in stable but fair condition after being shot in the torso by a man during the course of a car stop on northbound Interstate Highway 880 between Tennyson Road and Industrial Parkway in Hayward this afternoon.

According to Hayward police Lt. Reid Lindblom, Officer Carlos Martinez was shot around 3:15 p.m. as he and three other officers attempted to stop a man believed to have an outstanding felony warrant for a weapons violation.

Lindblom reported that after the officers turned on their lights and directed the man to the right side of I-880, the man jumped out of his car and fired on the two or three police vehicles present.

In the ensuing exchange of gunfire, Martinez struck the man, who was alone in his car, and the man has died, Lindblom said.

Northbound lanes on I-880 will be closed until 10 p.m. tonight, as the area is being treated as a crime scene, with investigators taking pictures and collecting evidence.

The three other officers present were not injured during the gunfire, but cars passing by were struck by stray bullets, Lindblom said.

Lindblom is not aware of any injuries to any other drivers on I-880 due to the shooting.

Prior to attempting to pull the man over, the officers recognized the man's car and had knowledge of his outstanding warrant, Lindblom said.

The man's identity cannot be released at this time because the man's family has not been notified of his death, according to Lindblom.

All of the officers involved in the incident will be placed on paid leave until the investigation is complete, Lindblom said.

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