Police seek vehicle of interest in Hayward sergeant's death

HAYWARD, Calif. (KGO) -- Investigators are pursuing a new lead in the death of a veteran Bay Area police sergeant who was shot and killed during a traffic stop. Hayward police announced late Thursday that they are now looking for a vehicle caught by a surveillance camera that may be related to the shooting death of Sgt. Scott Lunger.

Capt. Mark Koller said the 15-year veteran of the department was shot near Myrtle and Lion streets in Hayward at about 3:15 a.m. Wednesday after he and another officer stopped a truck that was being driven erratically.

According to Koller, Lunger was shot without warning as he approached the driver's side of the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley a short time later.

The other officer returned fire at the suspect, 21-year-old Mark Anthony Estrada, but police say the Oakland resident managed to flee the scene.

Estrada abandoned his truck at 98th and Edes avenues in East Oakland and eventually wound up at Highland Hospital in Oakland, where he was arrested and remains under guard while he's treated for non-life threatening injuries.

After the shooting, police searched Estrada's family's home in East Oakland.

Try to imagine how difficult it must be to balance the desire to investigate this shooting properly while grieving the loss of your friend and colleague. That's what Hayward police officers are doing right now.

Late Thursday afternoon they released new video. Police obtained the surveillance footage from the area of 107th Ave. and Beverly St. not far from the suspect's home in Oakland.

The recording taken after Lunger was shot around 3:15 a.m. The car is a light-colored four-door sedan with chrome rims. Investigators want to locate and talk with the driver and any occupants.

Police say anyone who recognizes the vehicle can call the Hayward police investigations division anonymously at (510) 293-7034.

As investigators are busy following those leads, other officers and a community are showing their support for Lunger.

The 48-year-old's casket was transported in a massive police procession from the Alameda County Coroner's Office in Oakland to the Chapel of the Chimes Mortuary in Hayward where funeral arrangements are now being made.

PHOTOS: Hayward police sergeant shot, killed

"To show our respect, just how they show us respect all the time, too," said Hayward resident Casandra Buenrostro. "

Local law enforcement and community members like Buenrostro lined the route on short notice. The moving display of respect and honor spanned from Oakland to Hayward.

The community is united in its grief as those close to Lunger and those who witnessed the aftermath come to terms with the loss.

"It was very traumatic, I could not sleep anymore after that," said Antonio Sandoval, who lives near the shooting scene in Hayward.

Police say Estrada was booked into Santa Rita Jail Thursday on one count of homicide.

Police say they are still investigating the evidence pulled from Estrada's Oakland home. At this point, they say it's too early to say how the murder weapon was obtained.

Tentative arrangements have now been made to lay the fallen sergeant to rest next week. A public funeral service has been scheduled for Thursday, July 30 at 10 a.m. at Neighborhood Church on John Drive in Castro Valley.

"His murder is a reminder that the work we call our police officers to do puts their lives in jeopardy every day, every stop," said Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif. The East Bay congressman paid tribute to Lunger on the House floor in Washington on Thursday. Vice President Joe Biden also spoke about the fallen sergeant during a visit to the Bay Area.

"My heart goes out to the Lunger family," he said. "And uh, no one fully appreciates the risk you take until something like this happens."

Click here for full coverage on the Hayward police shooting.

Bay City News contributed to this report.