Dublin Officer Shoots and Kills Transient Who Attacked Her

A Dublin police officer shot and killed a transient who was beating her, stomping her head to the ground.

The officer was hospitalized early this morning with a head injury, according to Alameda County Sheriff's spokesman J.D. Nelson.

"She's been through a hell of a fight," said Nelson.

The officer, who police have not yet identified, was released from the hospital this morning and taken home.  

Nelson said the man is well-known in Dublin and has a criminal history. The officer had been responding to a report of suspicious activity in the area when she was suddenly attacked.

Shots were fired within minutes of her arrival, Nelson said. Responding officers found her injured, her head covered in blood. She told them the man was kicking and punching her.

"He tried to smash her head into the cement, at which time she
took out her service weapon, fired at the suspect and killed him," Nelson
said.

The shooting happened at around 1:30 a.m. Thursday. During the investigation, police closed the southbound Interstate 680 on-ramp at Amador Plaza Road, near the Stoneridge Chrysler Jeep Dodge dealership.

The officer was taken to Eden Medical Center's trauma center for treatment. 

Nelson said the injured sergeant is a 20-year veteran of the department. She has been placed on paid administrative leave, as is protocol with officer-involved shootings, Nelson said.

The Alameda County District Attorney's Office will be conducting an investigation into the shooting. The sheriff's office provides contract police services to the city of Dublin.

We will update this story when further details are available.