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Rookie police officer shot and killed while helping woman during domestic violence call

by Justin Wise - 06/20/19 8:21 PM ET

A rookie Sacramento officer who recently graduated from the police academy was shot and killed on Wednesday night helping a woman during a domestic violence call.

Tara O’Sullivan, a 26-year-old officer, was fatally shot as she helped a woman collect her belongings, according to The Associated Press.

{mosads}”We are devastated,” Sacramento Police 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.”

Sacramento police Sgt. Vance Chandler stated that police arrived at a house in the area on Wednesday after receiving a call about a disturbance involving a man and a woman, CNN reported. The suspect started firing shots about 30 minutes after police arrived at the home, according to reports.

The woman O’Sullivan was helping did not suffer any injuries, AP noted. The AP added that the gunman continued firing a rifle-type weapon, leading to a standoff that lasted about eight hours until he surrendered.

Sacramento Police identified the suspect as Adel Sambrano Ramos, 45, on Thursday. He has been booked in jail on charges related to O’Sullivan’s murder.

UPDATE- On Thursday, June 20, 2019, at 5:55 a.m., the Sacramento Police Department booked 45-year-old Adel Sambrano Ramos on charges relating to the murder of Sacramento Police Officer Tara O’Sullivan.

Original Press Release: https://t.co/fMBuTo0TGM #sacpd pic.twitter.com/eG8ro1gFRP

— Sacramento Police (@SacPolice) June 20, 2019

The relationship between the gunman and the woman is unclear, AP reported.

Sgt. Vance Chandler said that police were able to transport O’Sullivan to a medical center after bringing an armored vehicle to the scene 45 minutes after she was hit. She was reportedly transported to UC Davis Medical Center, where she died.

O’Sullivan graduated from Sacramento State University with a degree in child development. She graduated from the police academy in December and had been working with a training officer, AP reported.

“Our hearts are with Tara’s family, whose pain can hardly be imagined. Please hold her family in your thoughts and prayers,” Sacramento Police said on Twitter.

Our hearts are with Tara’s family, whose pain can hardly be imagined. Please hold her family in your thoughts and prayers. #sacpd #18BR2 #inthelineofduty

— Sacramento Police (@SacPolice) June 20, 2019