Oakland police: Man opened fire on Sgt. 'like a coward,' arrest made

OAKLAND, Calif. (KTVU) - The man wanted for opening fire on an Oakland police sergeant over the weekend is now under arrest. Police say he was motivated by anti-police sentiment.

Oakland police say a man was arrested about 4 a.m. Thursday after barricading himself at a Stockton home, two days after he opened fire on the sergeant.

Oakland homicide Lt. Roland Holmgren said the man opened fire on Oakland police Sgt. Nadia Clark, "like a coward," as she was trapped in her car after a traffic collision.

Sergeant Clark was responding to a call when a burgundy SUV pulled in front of her at 73rd Avenue and Weld Street in East Oakland. The two SUVs collided, and the impact sent Sgt. Clark's car up onto the sidewalk.

As she sat dazed from the crash and pinned inside her car, the suspect - unconnected to the collision - walked up and fired a single shot.

Clark made a desperate call for help on the police radio: "I just got shot at! I was in a car accident! I can't get out of the car!"

Clark wasn't hit by gunfire. As for a motive, police say he may have been inspired by recent killings of police across the country.

"He did make some statements when he conducted that act, that would lead me to believe that it was part of that story a little bit," Holmgren said, adding, "The overall narrative that's going on nationally."

Wilson, Samad, and McFadden all fired guns, said Kevin Dunleavy, Alameda County chief assistant district attorney. Tanner drove Samad and McFadden to the scene of the killing, Oakland homicide Sgt. Michael Cardoza wrote in court documents.

The fifth suspect, Tyrone Terrell Jr., is still being sought.

Police say tips from the community helped them in both cases.

"What I would like to highlight today most importantly it, even through our trying times, our strained relationships with the community and law enforcement throughout the country, the citizens of Oakland have stepped up in both of these cases," said police Capt. Ersie Joyner.

The arrests come as the city of Oakland is still searching for a permanent police chief amid a series of misconduct cases, including a sex exploitation scandal involving a young woman.