Police officer gunned down on duty
Note: I was the sole reporter on shift when this story broke. As soon as I heard on the police scanner that an officer had been shot, I rushed out to the scene. I sent updates back to the office, interviewed neighbors and tried to piece together what had happened. When news that she had died started circulating, I was called back to the office to scrub the internet for any information about her. Here are both stories and a few of the weeks-worth of follow-ups I helped with, including coverage from the memorial service.
26-year-old female cop gunned down in north Sacramento; suspect in custody after 8-hour standoff (A1)
Police officer Tara O’Sullivan killed in North Sacramento shooting, officials confirm
Forced from their homes by rifle fire, North Sacramento residents waited for standoff to end
Slain Sacramento police officer Tara O’Sullivan remembered as ‘natural born leader’ (A1)
‘The epitome of what a Hornet is’: Hundreds attend vigil for Tara O’Sullivan at Sac State
More than 500 people turn out for second vigil this week honoring Tara O’Sullivan
Family of slain officer Tara O’Sullivan speaks publicly for first time since her death
Painted rock controversy: Rocks in El Dorado Hills back to honoring O’Sullivan again
‘Marble wrapped in velvet.’ Fallen SPD officer Tara O’Sullivan eulogized at funeral (A1)
They said they had explosives, but their hoax held up traffic near Lake Tahoe for hours
Note: This story started with an ominous tweet from CalTrans, saying part of Highway 89 was closed due to “undisclosed police activity.” I called around and was able to get an anonymous source to tell me what was going on. We published that initial article and updated it several times throughout the evening, as the story evolved from a bomb threat to a bomb hoax to getting the suspects in custody.
(Published on SacBee.com on July 26, 2019)
Costco near Cal Expo in Sacramento is evacuated after report of man with gun, but threat is over
Note: Just a week after the mass shooting in an El Paso Walmart over the summer, we started getting reports of a gunman at a local Costco. Again, I was the only reporter on shift and immediately began gathering information. I listened to the police scanner and called Sac PD’s public information officer as he was on his way to the scene. Another reporter, who lived near the Costco, went out to the scene, so I could stay in the office and write up the story. Ultimately, the threat was determined not to be legitimate.
(Published on SacBee.com on Aug. 8, 2019)