Police Officer James Williams, Jr.

James Williams, Jr.

Officer James Williams was shot and killed by a sniper while he was searching for a gun.

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 sniper on an overpass opened fire on both officers with a high-powered rifle. Officer Williams was struck in the chest, with the round penetrating 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 sniper was a friend of the original suspects and decided to shoot at the officers in order to allow the suspects to escape. The suspect was arrested and pled guilty to second-degree murder towards the end of his capital murder trial in order to avoid the death penalty. He was sentenced to life without parole.

Officer Williams had only been with the Oakland Police Department for ten weeks. He is survived by his wife, two sons, and one daughter.