Update: Piedmont Man Arrested In Shooting of Federal Agent in Newark

Editor's Note: This report was updated at 4:35 p.m.

Newark — Police have arrested a Piedmont man in connection to a Tuesday morning shooting in Newark that injured an off-duty federal agent, police said.

Dennis Bagwell, 61, of Piedmont has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, according to a press release. Police said he does not have a history of criminal activity.

Newark Detective Sgt. Mike Carroll said Bagwell is a property manager who lives on Linda Avenue in Piedmont.

Bagwell was arrested without incident during a traffic stop in Union City.

Multiple gunshots were heard on the 7700 block of Mayhews Landing Road at about 5:50 a.m. Tuesday near Bettencourt Street, said Cmdr. Bob Douglas of the Newark Police Department.

Police said when they arrived the federal agent was suffering from at least one gunshot wound and was taken to Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, the closest trauma center.

The victim's family has asked that his medical condition not be made public.

The agent's identity has not been released, but Newark police confirmed that he is a 61-year-old Newark resident employed with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency with the Department of Homeland Security.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the victim was an agent assigned to San Francisco International Airport. Read the full Chronicle report here.

It appears that the federal agent may have had a confrontation with the suspect, Douglas said.

It is unknown whether the agent fired a weapon, Douglas said.

Douglas said the victim was shot outside of his home and that it was "a random incident" and that the public was not at risk.

Witnesses described seeing a tall man with a limp leaving the area soon after shots were fired. Douglas said it is unknown whether the suspect was injured.

The suspect was first seen going north on foot toward Sycamore Street and then was last seen driving a small to mid-size sedan similar to a Toyota Camry or Lexus.

A neighbor who lives across the street said she was in her living room when she heard someone yell, "Get down on the ground." She said she then heard multiple gunshots.

The neighbor, who didn't want her name published, said she then saw a man in a white hooded sweatshirt limping away from the house.

Another neighbor said his surveillance video captured the suspect's  vehicle heading east on Bettencourt Street toward Hayley Street.

Neighbors said an incident like this is uncommon for the neighborhood. 

"It's a pretty quiet neighborhood. It's really surprising," said the woman who heard the shots, saying she's lived there for about 11 years.

Douglas said the Newark Police Department is working with federal agencies and other local agencies in the investigation.

"It's still ongoing and leads are being followed up on as we speak," Douglas said.

The shooting happened less than half a mile away from and Elementary Schools, but no lockdowns were initiated. Newark residents told Patch that they received multiple automated calls from the stating that all schools are open and safe.

Mayhews Landing Road was closed from Buckeye Street to Spruce Street for several hours but was opened by 1:45 p.m.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Sergeant Mike Carroll at 510-578-4247. Anonymous tips can be called into 510-578-4000, extension 500.

For more immediate updates on police and fire incidents, follow Newark Patch on twitter.com/NewarkPatch and facebook.com/NewarkPatch and the Newark Police Department at nixle.com.

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