14 Richmond, Fairfield Police Officers Identified In Fatal I-80 Shootout

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, CA — Police from Fairfield and Richmond have identified 14 officers involved in a fatal shootout with a homicide suspect who stopped traffic on Interstate Highway 80 in Emeryville in both directions for hours last week. According to Fairfield police, Demilo Hodge, 45, of Napa, was wanted in connection with the December 2015 killing of 68-year-old William Freeman in Fairfield, and on the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 27, Fairfield police detectives learned Hodge was in Richmond so they contacted Richmond police for assistance in conducting a traffic stop of Hodge.

When Hodge failed to yield, a pursuit began onto westbound Interstate Highway 80. Richmond police and California Highway Patrol assisted in the pursuit, which included the successful deployment of a spike strip by CHP in Berkeley. Hodge's vehicle struck a concrete barrier and came to rest near the I-80/I-580 interchange in Emeryville, just past the Powell Street exit.

A standoff ensued for more than 20 minutes, according to police. A trained crisis negotiator conducted a lengthy dialogue with Hodge, Richmond police said, and Fairfield police deployed "less-lethal" impact projectiles and chemical agents — but allegedly, Hodge suddenly got out of his vehicle, shot at the officers and was struck in an exchange of gunfire.

Hodge was transported to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

• Fairfield Homicide Suspect Shot, Killed As I-80 Pursuit Ends Near Emeryville

The Fairfield police officers who fired their department-issued guns included Sgt. Brent Pucci, with 20 years of law enforcement experience; Sgt. Kelly Rombach, with 16 years of experience; Officer John Divine, with 13 years of experience; Officer Erik Aagaard, with 12 years of experience; Officer Shane Raftery, with 4 years of experience; and Officer James Sehr, with 3 years of experience.

Officer Michael Ambrose, with 7 years of experience, was the officer who deployed the less-lethal weapons, according to department spokesman Sgt. Matt Bloesch.

The Richmond police officers who fired their weapons included Sgt. D. Decious, with 16 years of experience; Sgt. C. Llamas, with 15 years experience; Detective A. Diaz, with 9 years of experience; Detective M. Ricchutto, with 6 years of experience; Officer B. Mendler, with 9 years of experience; Officer O. Guzman, with 5 years of experience; and Officer C. Tagorda, with 10 years of experience.

Hodge grew up in the Bay Area and lived in Napa, although he was officially listed as a San Leandro resident. He owned and managed a limo company offering wine tours in the Napa Valley called Executive Excursion Limousine Service.

• Napa Limo Driver Was Fairfield Homicide Suspect Shot, Killed In I-80 Pursuit, Standoff
  

Fairfield police say Hodge was a suspect in the Dec. 10, 2015 killing of Freeman in the 800 block of Sunset Court in Fairfield. Earlier in September, police had released sketches of two suspects in the killing.

• Sketches Show 2015 Solano Co. Murder Suspects: Police

The Emeryville Police Department and the California Highway Patrol have both said that none of their personnel were involved in the fatal Sept. 27 shootout, which resulted in a several-hour freeway closure.

The shootout remains under investigation, and Emeryville police have taken the lead. The Alameda County District Attorney's Office is also conducting its own investigation. Both agencies have said it could be weeks or months before their final reports are available to the public.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

Main photo: Police officers investigate the scene of a standoff with a suspect driving a sports utility vehicle on westbound Interstate 80 on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017, in Emeryville, Calif. The incident, which ended in gunfire, shut freeway traffic in both directions at the height of morning rush hour. (Photo by Noah Berger/Associated Press)