Oakland Police Department, California
End of Watch: Sunday, January 10, 1999
Age: 41
Tour of Duty: 2 months, 1 week
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: January 10, 1999
Weapon Used: Rifle
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Police Officer James Williams was shot and killed by a sniper while he was searching for a gun along I-580 near 38th Avenue.
He and another officer were searching a portion of a highway where two suspects tossed a shotgun out of their vehicle window during an earlier police chase. During the search, a subject on an overpass opened fire on both officers with a high-powered rifle. Officer Williams was struck in the chest and the round penetrated his vest. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The other officer was shot but the round was stopped by his handcuff case. The subject was a friend of the original suspects and decided to shoot at the officers to aid the suspects in escaping. The man was arrested and charged with capital murder. He plead guilty to second-degree murder towards the end of his trial to avoid the death penalty. He was sentenced to life without parole.
Officer Williams had only served with the Oakland Police Department for 10 weeks. He is survived by his wife, two sons, and one daughter.