Lovelle Mixon was a 26-year-old man from Oakland, California that shot and killed three police sergeants and critically injured a fourth officer on March 21, 2009, after being pulled over during a routine traffic stop. Lovelle, who was on parole for assault with a deadly weapon, had a no-bail warrant out for his arrest for violating his parole. He opened fire on the two traffic officers and took off on foot, sparking a manhunt that lasted two hours and ended with two more officers being shot and killed. During the second shooting Lovelle was also shot and killed.Insidebayarea.com: Three police sergeants dead, suspect killed in East Oakland gun battles (March 21, 2009) The fourth officer later died from his injuries at 12:00 pm PST on March 22, 2009SFGate: Fourth Oakland officer involved in Saturday's shootings dies (March 22, 2009)

On March 21, 2009, just after 1:00 pm PST, Sgt. Mark Dunakin and officer John Hege pulled over Lovelle Mixon on a routine traffic stop. Mixon, who had no-bail warrant out for his arrest because he had violated his parole, opened fire on the two traffic officers and took off on foot, leaving the wounded men lying in the street. One witness approached the officers and performed CPR on one while waiting for paramedics to arrive. Dunakin was later pronounced dead, while Hege remained in critical condition at the Highland hospital trauma center.NBC Bay Area: Three OPD Officers Killed, Another Clings to Life (March 21, 2009) Hege later died from his injuries at 12:00 pm PST on March 22, 2009SFGate: Fourth Oakland officer involved in Saturday's shootings dies (March 22, 2009)

Over the course of the next two hours, an entire area in East Oakland was roped off to traffic as officers from at least five different law enforcement agencies began a manhunt for Mixon. An anonymous call came in directing police to an apartment building where Mixon had barricaded himself in one of the apartment's closets. SWAT team Sgt. Ervin Romans and Sgt. Daniel Sakai approached the closet where Lovelle Mixon was hiding. He then opened fired through the door, killing both men and wounding another. The wounded officer fired back, killing Mixon.Huffington Post: 4 Police Shot, Suspect Killed, After Traffic Stop (March 21, 2009)

The apartment belonged to Mixon's 24-year-old sister Enjoli Mixon, who was not home at the time. Another sibling, Mixon's half sister Reynete, was at the apartment when the shootings occurred but had not heard her brother come in. When police knocked down the door she was in the bathroom, and immediately hit the floor. Officers ushered her outside to a police car where she was handcuffed and taken to a local children's hospital for observation before being released into police custody and questioned extensively.SFGate: Family's account of Oakland parolee who killed the four police officers (March 22, 2009)

On March 22, 2009, the family of shooter Lovelle Mixon began to speak out about Mixon's life and the events that may have led up to the shootings on March 21. The family also offered their sympathies to the family and friends of the slain officers.SFGate: Family's account of Oakland parolee who killed the four police officers (March 22, 2009)

Lovelle Mixon served six years in Corcoran state prison for an armed robbery in San Francisco. While there he married his childhood sweetheart, Amara Langston, a U.S. Army veteran that served 15 months in Iraq. Mixon was released from prison two years ago and worked for a short time as a janitor at place that provided low rent housing. After a parole violation, he was sent back to prison for nine months and was released in November of 2008. According to his family, he had been having problems with his most recent parole officer, and had failed to show up at one of their mandatory meetings, prompting a no-bail warrant to be issued for his arrest.SFGate: Family's account of Oakland parolee who killed the four police officers (March 22, 2009)

"He's not a monster. I don't want people to think he's a monster. He's just not. He's just not."—Enjoli Mixon, Lovelle's sisterSFGate: Family's account of Oakland parolee who killed the four police officers (March 22, 2009)

"We're crushed that this happened. Our hearts and prayers go out to the officers' families....This shouldn't have happened."—Mary Mixon, Lovelle's grandmotherSFGate: Family's account of Oakland parolee who killed the four police officers (March 22, 2009)