Chico Man Charged with Murder in Death of Oakland Police Officer

OAKLAND, California – A Chico man has been charged with murder in connection to the killing of Oakland police Officer Tuan Le on Dec. 29. Allen Starr Brown, 28, of Chico and Mark Demetrious Sanders, 27, of Stockton appeared in court in Alameda County on Thursday for the first time, where prosecutors announced the murder charges. Both men waived a formal arraignment on murder charges, wearing red jail outfits and standing silently. Dozens of law enforcement officers surrounded Le’s mother in the courtroom and showed their support for the first Oakland police officer killed in the line of duty since 2009.

The alleged incident occurred when authorities say Sanders opened fire at Le from a vehicle driven by Brown. This transpired after Le and other undercover officers responded to a burglary call at a marijuana grow house at the corner of Embarcadero and 5th Avenue. Court documents released on Thursday revealed that at least three burglaries happened at the business that night, during which a group of people removed marijuana plants from the building and stashed them in waiting vehicles.

Both Sanders and Brown are being detained without bail at Santa Rita Jail and are scheduled to return to court on Jan. 18 to enter their pleas. This case has sparked outrage and raised concerns about the safety of law enforcement officers in Oakland, as it marks the first officer killed in the line of duty in over a decade. The tragic incident has also shed light on the dangers faced by undercover officers while responding to criminal activity.

The murder charges against Brown and Sanders have brought attention to the risks and sacrifices that law enforcement officers make every day to protect their communities. The court process for the accused continues, and the community mourns the loss of Officer Tuan Le, who devoted his life to serving and protecting the people of Oakland.