Parole officer shot and killed in his office in front of horrified colleagues
Joshua Lemont Byrd, 40, died after the attacker stormed the Division of Adult Parole Operations office in Oakland at around 12:50 pm on Thursday.
The suspect then fled from the building but was later detained by Oakland Police Department (OPD) officers.
He was identified as Bryan Keith Hall, who was recently paroled from prison, according to Fox KTVU.
Hall, 48, has a conviction for assault with a deadly weapon for stabbing a man in the neck on Lakeshore - a neighborhood in Oakland - in a case handled by the OPD and the Alameda County District Attorney's Office.
Father-of-three Byrd was transported to Highland Hospital, where he tragically died.
On Thursday evening, law enforcement officers from the OPD, Alameda County Sheriff's Office, CHP and state patrol lined up outside the hospital as Byrd's body - shielded by an American flag - was carried out and placed into an Alameda County coroner's vehicle.
'This is a heartbreaking loss. Agent Byrd served with integrity and courage — and we're forever grateful,' California Governor Gavin Newsom and Acting Governor Eleni Kounalakis said in a statement on Thursday.
'We are keeping his family in our prayers and we join the men and women of CDCR in mourning this tragedy.'
Byrd left behind a wife and three children. A GoFundMe has been set up to support his family members and other loved ones.
'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.' Byrd's partner Hugh Soloman explained on the GoFundMe page.
'Byrd started at CMF and was with us for a good long while before he transferred over to 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.'
Over 500 people have donated to the GoFundMe, raising over $50,000 in total, with a goal of $75,000.
The motive of the shooting remains unclear and has not been released at this stage.
The CHP said in a statement: 'We do not believe there is any ongoing danger to the public.'
Byrd's death is the first line-of-duty loss for CDCR since 2018.
Flags at the state Capitol and Capitol Annex Swing Space will be flown at half-staff in Byrd's honor, according to Newsom's office.
Byrd served with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for 11 years.
Hall was paroled from prison a week and a half before the murder.
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