Gunman arrested as California parole officer is fatally shot in his Oakland office in front of horrified colleagues
Joshua Lemont Byrd, aged 40, died when his attacker stormed the Division of Adult Parole Operations office at around 12.50 pm on Thursday.
The suspect then fled from the building but was later detained by officers from Oakland Police Department (OPD).
The suspect was identified as Bryan Keith Hall, 48, who was recently paroled from prison, according to Fox KTVU.
Hall had a conviction for assault with a deadly weapon for stabbing a man in the neck on Lakeshore in a case handled by OPD and the Alameda County District Attorney's Office.
Father-of-three Byrd was transported to Highland Hospital, where he tragically died.
On Thursday, OPD officers, Alameda County Sheriff's Office, CHP, and state patrol assembled outside the hospital when Byrd's body (shielded by an American flag) was carried out and placed into a coroner's vehicle.
California Governor Gavin Newsom and Acting Governor Eleni Kounalakis said in a statement: 'This is a heartbreaking loss. Agent Byrd served with integrity and courage - and we're forever grateful.
'We are keeping his family in our prayers and we join the men and women of CDCR [California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation] in mourning this tragedy.'
Byrd left behind a wife and three children, and a GoFundMe account was set up to support his family members and loved ones.
Byrd's partner Hugh Soloman explained on the page: 'Byrd was a great guy and officer. He was very dependable and cared for all. He was a Navy veteran before he joined CDCR and Parole.'
'The purpose of the donation is to help the family in the uncertain and tragic time. The honor box will show his family how much he was loved and honored.'
The motive of the shooting remained unclear and was not yet released.
Byrd's death's the first line-of-duty loss for CDCR since 2018.
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