Police Killer Had Previous Brushes With Authorities

RICHMOND, Calif. — A Richmond officer who was shot and killed after responding to a domestic violence call had been at the residence two years ago for a similar incident, police said.

Officer David Haynes was at the apartment on Harnett Avenue in 1990 when police arrested Jay Choe for brandishing a rifle and threatening his children, said Sgt. Mike Pon, a spokesman for the Richmond Police Department.

On Monday, Choe, 52, killed Haynes and Officer Leonard Garcia and wounded his ex-wife and 14-year-old son before turning the gun on himself, police said. A daughter escaped unharmed.

According to court records, Choe was distraught over his divorce and several times in the past threatened to kill himself, his ex-wife and children.

In December, 1990, Choe violated a temporary restraining order and entered the apartment through a window and threatened his two children with a rifle.

Officer Haynes reported to the scene as a crime technician, but was not directly involved with Choe’s arrest, Pon said.

Court records showed that police also went to the home in early 1991 when the woman received a threatening letter from Choe, who was in prison at the time.