This press release is a summary of the facts known at this time, as this incident is actively being investigated. The information contained in the press release is subject to change. Additional details will be released as they become available.

On June 19, 2019, the Sacramento Police Department received a call regarding a disturbance between a male and a female. Officers made contact with the involved female at a residence in the 3700 block of Esperanza Drive. Officers then responded to a residence in the 200 block of Redwood Avenue to standby while the involved female gathered some belongings from a residence. At approximately 6:10 p.m., officers on scene reported shots had been fired, and an officer was struck by gun fire. The officer who was shot, Tara Christina O’Sullivan succumbed to her injuries after being transported to the hospital. The suspect, 45-year old Adel Sambrano Ramos, was booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on charges relating to the murder of Officer O’Sullivan.

Click here for the original press release. 

While the Department continues the investigation into this incident, additional information is available to be shared with our community. While trying to help the female gather her belongings, the officers found that the suspect’s front door of the main residence was barricaded and unable to be opened. Believing that the suspect may possibly be at the home, the officers tried to locate him and continue gathering some belongings for the female. The officers moved to the backyard of the residence and approached a detached garage. Once at the door of this garage, the officers were ambushed from behind and were fired upon by a high-powered rifle. Officer O’Sullivan was hit by gunfire at this time. She was struck multiple times by rifle rounds and one injury was non-survivable.

The Sacramento Police Department is releasing a segment of body worn camera from which shows this attack on our officers. Click here to view video.

After the initial shooting, at approximately 6:13 p.m., officers requested the armored vehicle. A patrol officer responded to our police station where the armored vehicle is stored. This police station is located at 300 Richards Boulevard.

At approximately 6:15 p.m., the officer arrived at the police station for the armored vehicle. At approximately 6:22 p.m. the officer left from the police station and responded to the 200 block of Redwood Avenue while driving with lights and sirens.

At approximately 6:27 p.m., the officer who was driving the armored vehicle arrived in the area and coordinated with officers who were already on scene. The officers developed a plan to safely rescue Officer O’Sullivan. As the armored vehicle moved to breach the fence of the backyard, the suspect fired multiple times at the armored vehicle. Officers utilized the armored vehicle to breach the fence and navigate through the backyard. As the officers drove in the backyard of the residence, the suspect continued to fire at the armored vehicle.

Officers were able to gain access to the backyard and conduct the rescue. As the armored vehicle was in close proximity to Officer O’Sullivan, multiple officers exited the armored vehicle to rescue her. One officer returned fire at the suspect while Officer O’Sullivan was rescued.  

The suspect continued to fire at the armored vehicle as the officers backed out of the backyard. While backing out, the armored vehicle became disabled. Then, multiple officers carried Officer O’Sullivan to a police vehicle for medical aid and transportation. While transporting Officer O’Sullivan to a local area hospital, a California Highway Patrol (CHP) Officer rendered aid. This CHP Officer is a first aid instructor, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), combat medic and license practical nurse in the military.  

Throughout this incident, the suspect fired sporadically at officers for more than four hours from 6:10 p.m. to 10:29 p.m., on at least 30 separate occasions.

At approximately 9:38 p.m., crisis negotiators attempted to make contact with the suspect inside the residence. After numerous attempts to make contact with the suspect, negotiators made contact with him at 10:40 p.m. Negotiators worked diligently to gain compliance from the suspect. Eventually, after more than two hours of negotiating, the suspect surrendered and was placed under arrest. The suspect was not injured during this incident.

Additional information being released includes:

•           An aerial photo of the location of the incident

•           A photo of the interior of the front door of the suspect’s residence

•           Photos of weapons located in the residence where the suspect was barricaded. These weapons include two assault rifles, one shotgun and one handgun. All four weapons were strategically placed throughout the house. Additionally, investigators have determined that all four of these weapons were used by the suspect during the incident and there are casings throughout the house.  

In accordance with State Law and City Council Policy, we will be releasing additional information about this incident in the future. This is a very complex incident and is still be actively investigated.