A Pittsburg police officer was shot during a struggle with a suspect inside the police department on Thursday, Sept. 3, after the man was brought to the station following an arrest.
The officer and the 31-year-old suspect were both wounded when a firearm was discharged during the confrontation in the booking area. The officer was taken to a local hospital and was initially listed in serious but stable condition. He later underwent surgery and is expected to recover. The suspect was also hospitalized and is in stable condition.
The circumstances surrounding how the firearm entered the police station have since come under scrutiny. Law enforcement sources told CBS Bay Area that the suspect had not been properly searched, or may not have been searched, before being placed in a holding area. According to those sources, the suspect later produced the firearm when officers came to retrieve him for transport to the county jail.
The official account from Pittsburg police confirms that the man had been arrested and taken to the department for booking. During a physical altercation with an officer, a firearm was discharged, striking both the officer and the suspect. Police have not publicly identified the man or disclosed the original reason for his arrest.
Additional details have emerged about the struggle. According to law enforcement sources cited in local reporting, the officer suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen, while the suspect was wounded in the leg or ankle. A third person was also reportedly taken to a hospital following the incident, although authorities have not publicly provided details about that person’s condition.
The shooting prompted a major emergency response at the Pittsburg Civic Center, where the police headquarters and City Hall are located. The area was secured while investigators worked at the scene.
Pittsburg Mayor Dionne Adams described the incident as an upsetting moment for the community and expressed support for the injured officer, the officer’s family and the police department. Police Chief Phil Galer also thanked local paramedics, firefighters and neighboring agencies for their assistance following the shooting.
The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office and the Pittsburg Police Investigations Division are investigating the shooting. Officials have not yet released a complete account of how the suspect obtained the firearm or why the confrontation escalated.
The investigation remains active, and additional details are expected to be released as authorities determine what happened inside the booking area.
