Suspect In Fatal SJ Officer Shooting Found Dead

Police this morning are reporting the suspect in the Tuesday night fatal shooting of a San Jose police officer has been found dead. Scott Dunham, 57, of San Jose, was found deceased by officers at 3:20 a.m. on the balcony of his residence, police said.

He was shot at least once. There was no information immediately available on if the gunshot wound was self-inflicted. Dunham was the suspect in the killing of Officer Michael Johnson, a 14-year veteran of the police department.

Police said Dunham shot and killed Johnson Tuesday around 6:50 p.m. when the officer responded to a call for service at Dunham’s residence in the 2600 block of Senter Road. During a news conference late Tuesday night, San Jose police Chief Larry Esquivel said, “It’s a sad day for law enforcement and police department in our community.”

[Previous: San Jose Police Officer Shot, Killed on Senter Road, Suspect Search Underway.]

A family member of Dunham called police to report that the 57-year-old man was despondent, intoxicated and possibly had access to weapons, including a rifle, San Jose police Chief Larry Esquivel said.

The reporting party also feared Dunham may hurt somebody, Esquivel said. When officers arrived on scene to an apartment complex, Dunham allegedly fired at officers from his residence, Esquivel said.

One of the officers, later identified as Johnson, was struck by the gunfire and pronounced dead at the scene.

“It’s unfortunate that this person had the nerve and the audacity to shoot at our officers responding to a call for service for assistance,” Esquivel said.

The other officers fired back at Dunham but police did not know if he was injured, Esquivel said.

Police then set up a perimeter around the residence and remained at the scene for several hours until Dunham’s body was discovered. Mayor Sam Liccardo called the fatal shooting, “San Jose’s darkest hour.”

“Our hearts go out to family, friends and colleagues of the officer,” Liccardo said. The mayor said he visited the officer’s family and offered his condolences on behalf of the city. “This strikes the hearts of all of us here in San Jose and throughout the region,” Liccardo said.

The San Jose Police Officers’ Association released a statement on the shooting this morning that read, “The men and women who make up the San Jose Police Officers’ Association are grieving the loss of one of our brothers, police officer Michael Johnson, a 14-year veteran, who was murdered last night while responding to a 911 call. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Officer Johnson’s family and friends, who was tragically struck down in the prime of his life protecting and serving the residents of San Jose.”

--Bay City News

--Video and photo via KRON4