By Associated Press
PITTSBURG, Calif. (AP) -- A police officer was shot to death Tuesday while following up on a criminal investigation at a home, and the suspect or suspects was still at large, authorities said.
Homicide inspector Ray Giacomelli was the first Pittsburg police officer killed in the line of duty in nearly 70 years, Chief Aaron Baker said.
Giacomelli had been planning to meet another inspector at the home Tuesday afternoon, police said during a news conference. When the other inspector arrived, he found Giacomelli dead from gunshot wounds.
Police said all leads were being pursued to find whoever was responsible for the officer’s death.
Chief Baker seemed close to tears as he explained the depth of the loss felt by the department.
“In my opinion, he was a cop’s cop, and we’re going to miss him greatly,” he said.
The last Pittsburg police officer killed on the job was in 1935, Baker said. Pittsburg is located across the bay from San Francisco.