The peaceful streets of Union City were disrupted abruptly when gunfire rang out during a routine eviction, resulting in a deputy from the Alameda County Sheriff's Office being shot. The Union City Police Department responded to the scene around 1:34 p.m. on Dowe Avenue, confirming the deputy was down and quickly cautioning locals to keep clear of the area, indicating the peril as an armed suspect remained loose.
Serving an eviction notice, the deputy was struck, and subsequent operations by law enforcement shaped into an intense standoff after assailants barricaded themselves, according to a Hoodline report. Identified by the UCPD as Michael Dorthick, 56, and Lizzette Chann, 54, both from Union City, the suspects were discovered deceased with wounds suggesting a tragic conclusion of murder-suicide.
Tension remained high until UCPD SWAT was able to gain entry to the location following hours of attempting to establish contact, ultimately finding both suspects with self-inflicted gunshot wounds, pronounced dead at the scene. This ended the threat, as no more suspects or victims were discovered within, the police department disclosed. Meanwhile, the affected deputy was rushed to a local trauma center and appeared to be on a promising recovery path.
While the names of the fallen suspects were initially withheld, pending family notification, the UCPD has confirmed their identities and their belief in the couple's role in the violence that had ensued during the service of an eviction notice. Wounded during the encounter, the deputy's spirits have been reported "in good spirits," the Alameda County Sheriff's Office revealed.
The incident, now the subject of ongoing investigations by UCPD, has officials urging anyone with information to step forward and contribute to the clarity of the case. "Anyone with information regarding the incident is encouraged to contact UCPD or your local law enforcement agency," Sergeant Jean Jimenez expressed in a press release covered by Hoodline. The department thanks all cooperating agencies involved in the response and subsequent investigation.
