Cop, suspect dead after gunfire in Northern California

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- A Northern California police officer was shot to death Tuesday night after responding to a call about a man threatening to commit suicide.

The man was later found dead.

The San Jose Police Department said officers were met with gunfire as they approached an apartment building and that a veteran officer was hit and pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers returned fire, reported CBS San Francisco station KPIX-TV.

Authorities said the suspected gunman, 57-year-old Scott Dunham, was thought to be holed up in his apartment as of late Tuesday night, and the complex was being evacuated, according to the station.

San Jose police said early Wednesday the suspect was found dead on his apartment balcony when they entered the residence. He had suffered at least one gunshot wound. There was no word on whether he shot himself or was felled by a police bullet.

Early Wednesday morning, San Jose police identified the dead officer as Michael Johnson, a 14-year veteran of the force.

Garren Weeden, an eyewitness to the shooting, said the gunman opened fire from his balcony.

"He just shot him (the officer) in the head with a rifle," Weeden told KPIX. It was bad."

San Jose police said they were called to the scene buy a family member who said Dunham was despondent and drunk.

"This has been San Jose's darkest hour," Mayor Sam Liccardo said. "Our hearts go out to the family, the friends and colleague of the fallen officer. The assailant will be brought to justice."

Condolences from police departments throughout California began pouring in on Twitter late Tuesday.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of San Jose PD at the traffic loss of a fellow peace officer," the Sonoma Sheriff's Department said in a tweet.