OAKLAND — The name of a BART officer involved in a fatal shooting last week was released on Wednesday by authorities.
BART officer Joseph Mateu fatally shot Shaleem Tindle, 28, near the West Oakland BART station on Jan. 3, according to Oakland police, who are lead investigators on the case.
Mateu, who is on paid leave during the investigation, was initially hired as a community service assistant in May 2003, according to a BART spokeswoman. He was sworn in as a police officer in November 2005 and promoted to senior police officer in January 2010.
Tindle was shot after refusing to drop a gun he was holding, police said. A photo of a gun recovered at the scene was also released on Wednesday. Tindle’s family has retained attorney John Burris, who said Wednesday he is investigating whether the 28-year-old man’s civil rights were violated. Burris viewed Tindle’s body and said there are wounds on his upper right chest, lower right hip and up to three smaller wounds on his back.
“I’m trying to determine which are entry wounds and which are exit wounds,” the attorney said. “I can’t tell” so far. The Alameda County Coroner’s Office will determine the cause of death and where Tindle was struck by gunfire, authorities said.
Another man, identified only as an Oakland resident, had been in a struggle with Tindle and was also wounded. Oakland police said they are still trying to determine who shot him. The shooting happened about 4:41 p.m. in the 1400 block of Seventh Street, across from the BART station.
Police said the BART officer was at the station in full uniform when he heard gunshots and saw the two men struggling with each other across the street. One of the men held a gun, police said.
The officer went across the street and tried to get the man with the gun to drop the weapon before the shooting, Oakland police said. The BART officer was not hurt.
Both wounded men were taken to a hospital where Tindle later died. The other man was treated and released.
Staff writer George Kelly contributed to this story.