Man Suspected of Killing San Jose Police Officer Found Dead

Update, 6:10 a.m. Wednesday The man authorities believe shot and killed San Jose police Officer Michael Johnson late Tuesday night has been found dead.

Police said the suspect, Scott Dunham, was discovered on the balcony of his Senter Road home at 3:20 a.m. He had suffered at least one gunshot wound, though police said it was unclear whether his injuries were self-inflicted or the result of police fire.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle:

Police Chief Larry Esquivel said there had (been) no additional reports of gunfire after the initial gunbattle between police and Dunham.

“It’s a good possibility he was dead the whole time,” Esquivel said. “There was no contact, or any dialogue or communication with any of our officers after that.”

Update, 12:05 a.m. Wednesday San Jose police have identified the officer shot and killed Tuesday evening while responding to a call as 14-year veteran Michael Johnson. He's the 12th San Jose police officer to die in the line of duty and the first since 2001.

Police say the shooting suspect is Scott Dunham, 57, a resident of a townhome complex on Senter Road. In a press conference, police said they believe Dunham is alone inside his residence in the South San Jose neighborhood.

Police Chief Larry Esquivel held a press conference near the scene of the fatal encounter and confirmed accounts that the officer was one of several who responded to the 2600 block of Senter Road after a telephoned report from the family member of a man -- apparently Dunham -- who might pose a threat to himself or others.

"The information was the suspect was despondent, intoxicated and possibly had access to weapons, including a rifle," Esquivel said.

An officer who was approaching the residence was reportedly shot when Dunham suddenly appeared on a balcony and opened fire with a rifle, Esquivel said. Officers returned fire and reported they may have hit the suspect.

"It's unfortunate this person had the nerve, the audacity, to shoot at our officers, who were on a call for assistance," Esquivel said.

Esquivel said that since Dunham was believed to still be in his home, officers had evacuated surrounding residences.

"This has been San Jose's darkest hour," said Mayor Sam Liccardo, who appeared alongside Esquivel. "This strikes the heart of all of us here in San Jose and throughout the region."

Original post: The San Jose Police Department reported late Tuesday night that an officer was shot and killed while responding to a call about a man with a gun who was threatening to kill himself.

The department said in a press release that officers responded to the 2600 block of Senter Road at approximately 6:48 p.m. The address police had been called to is a collection of two-story townhomes fronting directly on the busy six-lane thoroughfare.

In police radio traffic captured online, an officer can be heard reporting a man on a balcony a few minutes after 7 p.m.

"Gray hair, gray mustache, black T-shirt," the officer said.

About 20 seconds later, another officer reported, "Officer down."

Another officer reported multiple shots being fired a few seconds later.

About two minutes after the initial report, an officer confirmed, "Shots fired both ways, officer down, 10-55 [fatal], suspect had rounds at him, possibly down as well."

"At this time, officers have the location surrounded in all directions as they attempt to locate the suspect," the department reported at about 9 p.m. "All San Jose police resources are being utilized along with outside agency assistance."

KQED's Beth Willon reports that the area around where the shooting occurred, in South San Jose about 3 miles southeast of downtown, swarmed with police after the shooting. The San Jose Police Department's MERGE unit, its SWAT team, was sent to the scene immediately after the shooting.

Police have not confirmed whether the suspect has been located.

The unidentified officer was the 12th member of the San Jose department to die in the line of duty. The last before Tuesday night was Officer Jeffrey M. Fontana, shot and killed during a traffic stop in October 2001.

KQED's Ted Goldberg and Guy Marzorati contributed to this post.