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U.S. law enforcement officials have labeled the death of an officer in California during the protests that are ongoing following George Floyd’s death a crime of domestic terrorism.
Two Federal Protective Service officers were shot during protests Friday night in Oakland, California, that resulted in one of the officer’s deaths.
“Two Federal Protective Services officers stationed at the Oakland Down Town Federal Building suffered gunshot wounds. Unfortunately, one succumbed to his injury,” the police department told CNN. The officer’s death is being classified as an act of domestic terrorism, the Associated Press reported.
Around 9:45 p.m., authorities say a car pulled up to the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building located at 1301 Clay St. in Oakland and opened fire at the security officers for the Federal Protective Service of the Department of Homeland Security, KRON4 reported, citing the FBI.
“When someone targets a police officer or a police station with an intention to do harm and intimidate — that is an act of domestic terrorism,” DHS acting Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli said.
Officials have not released the name of the officer who died, and they have not named any suspects.
Major protesting and riots have broken out in more than a dozen cities following Floyd’s death, which occurred while he was in police custody. Floyd, a black man, was killed after a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, used his knee to apply pressure to Floyd’s neck to keep him pinned down. He held the unarmed man accused of a forged $20 bill in that position for about nine minutes until he was unresponsive.
Chauvin was taken into custody on Friday and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The other three officers at the scene have not been charged to date.
