Homicide Suspect in yesterday's Emeryville highway shootout identified

The suspect that was killed in yesterday’s I-80 shootout near the Powell off-ramp in Emeryville has been identified by Fairfield Police. 45-year-old San Leandro resident Demilo Trayuon Hodge died after a shootout with Richmond and Fairfield Officers and members of a SWAT team.

Homicide suspect shot by police on I-80. See my pics & read latest: https://t.co/4KGS6o1sDK #freeway #shooting #emeryville @CHPoakland pic.twitter.com/1rmTBtbe3Q

— Tyska (@Tyska) September 27, 2017

According to a Fairfield Police Department spokesman, Hodge was sought in connection with the death of 68-year-old William Freeman. Freeman was found fatally shot in his home in Fairfield back in December, 2015. The below sketches had been released by Fairfield Police earlier this month.

SF Chronicle Deputy Metro Editor Demian Bulwa tweeted out a photo of the suspect and identified him as the owner of Executive Excursion Limousine Service who operate out of Napa.

Limo company owner and homicide suspect Demilo Hodge identified as man killed by police on I-80 https://t.co/uCnPVDyUCc via @jennajourno pic.twitter.com/Q772UjuTyL

— Demian Bulwa (@demianbulwa) September 28, 2017

The incident began in Fairfield around 8:40 a.m. when Fairfield police detectives tried to apprehend Hodge but he fled according to police sources. Police used spike strips to disable Hodge’s black SUV and the vehicle came to a stop near the Powell offramp on Westbound I-80.

After a tenuous standoff where officers can be heard yelling instructions to Hodge to surrender (they actually refer to him as “Lyle” in the audio), he can be seen abruptly exiting the vehicle to a hail of bullets.

Many of the amateur videos of the incident have obscured views of the suspect exiting the vehicle but the overhead KPIX Channel 5 helicopter view appears to show Hodge crouching down and pointing something in the direction of the officers prior to them opening fire on them.

Some of Hodge’s background was revealed in this exclusive KTVU interview including a friend that described him as ‘a sweetheart’ and also that he had a been in prison at least ‘a couple’ of times.

The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office and Emeryville police will be co-investigating the case. The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave which is standard practice.