Hayward officer killed in the line of duty

Louis LaVenture,
Sports and Campus Editor

Hayward Police Sergeant Scott Lunger was killed in the line of duty following a traffic stop early Wednesday morning in North Hayward, acting Hayward Police Chief Mark Koller confirmed in a press conference Wednesday morning, according to reports by NBC Bay Area.

Sgt. Lunger was pronounced dead sometime Wednesday morning at Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley from gunshot wounds he sustained after he pulled over a pickup truck at 3:14 a.m. near Lion and Myrtle streets, Koller confirmed in the press conference.

In an audio recording of the dispatch call obtained by KRON, Lunger and his partner originally attempted to stop the truck on Kiwanis Street for driving erratically, before it was eventually pulled over at the location of the shooting, according to Koller.

Lunger walked up to the truck after he and his partner pulled it over, and the driver opened fire without warning. Lunger’s partner, whose name has not been released, returned fire before the suspect fled the scene in the vehicle. It is not known if other passengers were in the vehicle. The second officer was not injured in the incident, according to KRON’s audio recording of Koller’s press conference.

The truck, a white GMC pickup, was found several hours later in Oakland near 98th and Edes avenues. It had several bullet holes in it, according to Koller’s statements.

“He was a very well-liked, well-respected sergeant and police officer who loved his job and was eager to get out there in the community and do his job,” Koller said during the press conference.

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PHOTO BY TAM DUONG JR./THE PIONEER

Sgt. Lunger is a 15-year veteran of the HPD, was promoted to sergeant in 2009, and was also a member of the SWAT team and gang unit, according to HPD. “He was the ideal police officer,” Koller said.

During the press conference, Koller announced that they have “secured” a “person of interest” based on some information recovered in the truck after it was found.

“That man was rock,” said Campus Police Chief Sheryl Boykins. “He was such a cop’s cop, a S.W.A.T guy, an investigator, when he walked down the street, you knew he would find something. Everyone got excited knowing he was on their team.” Boykins worked for the HPD before becoming Police Chief at CSUEB.

Hayward Police officials did not return multiple phone calls and emails made by Pioneer staff on Wednesday.