City IDs officers who fired fatal shots

Two police officers who fired their guns earlier this month at a man who had reportedly been brandishing a BB gun, killing him, have been identified by authorities.

Hayward police Officers Alexander Robinson and Dominic Espino were placed on paid administrative leave immediately following the events on Sept. 6. The gunfire happened about 10 p.m. in the 2200 block of City Center Drive after police were called there on reports that a man pulled a gun on two women in a vehicle.

Authorities have yet to identify the man, who died after being rushed to a hospital. The Alameda County Coroner's Office was still working Tuesday to locate and notify his next of kin, according to authorities.

Hayward police acting Chief Bryan Matthews said during a press conference on Sept. 7 that Robinson and Espino — who he did not name at the time — each had about five years of experience with the department. He also said that the officers were wearing body-worn cameras when the shooting happened.

Authorities have not released footage caught on the cameras.

According to Matthews, witnesses near the scene told police that a man pointed a gun at them and then left the area. Police searched for him and eventually encountered a man who fit his description and tried to talk with him, Matthews said.

The man walked away from officers and wasn't cooperative, he said.

According to Matthews, a witness told police that the shooting happened after the man pointed a gun at the officers. Police recovered a BB gun from the scene, matching witnesses' description of the gun, Matthews said.

The Alameda County Sheriff's Office, per usual policy, also is investigating the shooting. The city also planned to use a Chicago-based firm to conduct a separate review of whether the officers followed department policy.