Police Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Outpouring of Support After California Officer Shot, Killed in Ambush

An officer with the Sacramento Police Department who was shot by a gunman at a domestic violence call on Wednesday night has died from her wounds, and agency leaders, elected officials, and individual citizens have all shown their deep condolences in online comments.

June 20, 2019
Outpouring of Support After California Officer Shot, Killed in Ambush

Officer Tara O'Sullivan was fatally shot in an ambush attack during a domestic call.

Credit:

Photo: Sacramento (CA) PD

2 min to read


An officer with the Sacramento Police Department who was shot by a gunman at a domestic violence call on Wednesday night has died from her wounds, and agency leaders, elected officials, and individual citizens have all shown their deep condolences.

According to USA Today, 26-year-old Tara O'Sullivan was among several officers at the scene, attempting to enable a woman to leave a residence with her belongings when the man—whose relationship with the woman was not immediately made clear—opened fire, striking O'Sullivan.

Ad Loading...

Related: Video: CA Officer Fatally Ambushed on Domestic Call, Suspect Surrenders After Standoff


Other officers who were attempting to get to O'Sullivan were prevented from doing so because the gunman kept shooting.

An armored vehicle was called to the scene to extract O'Sullivan. It reportedly took nearly an hour to get her to the hospital, where she subsequently succumbed to her injuries.

The gunman, meanwhile, continued to fire on officers at random for several hours.

A crisis negotiating team eventually made verbal contact with the man, but the standoff continued into the early hours of Thursday morning when the gunman finally surrendered and was arrested.

Ad Loading...

Five officers fired their weapons during the standoff, Sacramento police said.

"We are devastated tonight," Deputy Chief Dave Peletta said at a news conference. "There are no words to convey the depth of sadness we feel or how heartbroken we are for the family of our young, brave officer."

"She gave her young life while protecting our community," Peletta said.

Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg said, "To the officers that are still out there, we as a community rally and pray for their safety, because they're still in harm's way."

Citizens and fellow officers from around the country also made statements of mourning on the agency's Facebook page, with nearly 4,500 comments posed in a mere matter of hours.

Ad Loading...

One individual said simply, "Prayers to the Sacramento PD family and loved ones of Officer O'Sullivan."

Another said, "Thank you Sac PD for keeping us safe. My deepest gratitude to Officer O’Sullivan and sympathies to her family."

Another said, "RIP Officer O’Sullivan. My deepest condolences to your family at home and Sacramento PD. Blessed be the peacekeepers for they shall be called the children of god."

"Our hearts break for the department and her family," said another individual.

Funeral arrangements for Officer O'Sullivan have not yet been established.

More Patrol

Security worker watching computer monitors, with a white area at top with a logo for ZeroEyes.
PatrolApril 2, 2026

ZeroEyes Expands from AI Gun Detection to Knife Detection & Suspect Tracking

ZeroEyes has launched three new product categories to extend beyond firearms to address additional acute safety threats and basic security needs. Knife detection and suspect tracking are now also available.

Read More →
GALLS logo against a white box set atop a blue-tinted map of Tennessee.
PatrolApril 2, 2026

GALLS Acquires CMS Uniforms

GALLS has acquired CMS Uniforms and Equipment, Inc., a prominent regional provider based in Nashville, Tennessee. CMS Uniforms, founded in 2000, has built a reputation for delivering stellar customer service and managing complex uniform programs for more than 670 accounts.

Read More →
Police drone hovering over its charging nest against a blue sky background.
PatrolMarch 26, 2026

Brinc Unveils Guardian, Launching the Next Era of Drone as First Responder

Brinc’s new Guardian delivers 24/7 operations, Starlink connectivity, and a robotic charging nest that can swap batteries and change payload configurations without human intervention.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
image of trooper, shown from waist down, standing beside a police cruiser along the road and at right a headline Slow Down Move Over.
PatrolMarch 19, 2026

Colorado State Patrol Releases 2025 Struck-By Analysis

The Colorado State Patrol, after analyzing its 2025 struck-by incidents, identified one area for improvement: using traffic cones to provide advanced warning before the cruiser's location. Here is the agency’s final data.

Read More →
Image of a group of men in business attire receiving an award set against a black background and a Streamlight logo up top.
PatrolMarch 19, 2026

Streamlight Names 144th Marketing Group Law Enforcement Sales Rep Agency of the Year

Streamlight has recognized the 144th Marketing Group as its 2025 Sales Rep Agency of the Year Award for the Law Enforcement market.

Read More →
Image of a group of men in business attire receiving an award set against a black background and a Streamlight logo up top.
PatrolMarch 19, 2026

Streamlight Names 144th Marketing Group Law Enforcement Sales Rep Agency of the Year

Streamlight has recognized the 144th Marketing Group as its 2025 Sales Rep Agency of the Year Award for the Law Enforcement market.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
DArk backgroundn with inset images of a fallen police officer and a ballistic helmet and headline Rife-Rated.
PatrolMarch 19, 2026

The Mission After the Moment

The mission of the Jorge Pastore Foundation is to support first responders through essential training, stronger community engagement, and mental wellness resources, all accessible and funded through donations, sponsorships, and foundation-led fundraising. It works closely with Team Wendy in the discussions about developing better protective gear for officers.

Read More →
Promotional graphic for Patrolfinder featuring a police chief’s headshot inside a circular frame alongside a police SUV in the background. The headline reads: “Built for Patrol: How One Police Chief Fixed Communication, Boosted Visibility, and Changed the Culture.”
SponsoredMarch 17, 2026

Built for Patrol: How One Police Chief Fixed Communication, Boosted Visibility, and Changed the Culture

Patrol work hasn’t changed—but the expectations on officers have. See how one police chief helped officers get the right information at the right time, improve patrol visibility, and strengthen trust without adding complexity or surveillance. This real-world story shows how patrol-driven technology can make the job safer, smarter, and more effective—starting on day one.

Read More →
Woman kneeling with a Bloodhound in front of a white pickup truck.
PatrolMarch 1, 2026

K-9s Play a Critical Role in Finding Missing Persons

Real-world scenarios show that a tracking canine can detect and follow a human track several hours after it was made.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Black background with image of police car light bar, logo for POLICE Topics, Tactics & Tips, and headline What are the latest law enforcement boots from Garmont Tactical?
Patrolby Wayne ParhamFebruary 25, 2026

Garmont Tactical’s LE Boot Lineup

In this video, we get a look at the latest law enforcement boots from Garmont Tactical, both for men and women. Kyle Ferdyn, sales manager, showcases four of the latest boots.

Read More →