Press Release - Officer Shot During Arrest, Suspect Arrested with Fully Automatic Ghost Gun

Thursday January 12, 2023 just after 11:00 PM – an East Palo Alto Police Officer made a traffic stop on a dark colored Dodge Charger in the area of Fordham Street and Purdue Avenue for a Vehicle Code violation. The driver of the vehicle fled from the stop, and East Palo Alto Officers chased the suspect on foot to the 2700 block of Fordham. As officers were struggling with the suspect to get him in custody, the suspect pulled the trigger and discharged a single round, striking an officer. The officers were able to continue to get the suspect in custody, and no shots were fired by the police. One officer, a 5-year veteran of East Palo Alto PD, received a gunshot wound during the struggle. The officer is being treated for a non-life-threatening injury to a lower extremity.

The suspect Willie Wiley, a 44 year-old male resident of East Palo Alto is in custody, and the firearm involved has been safely recovered.

The firearm was determined to be a “ghost gun” converted to be fully automatic with a high capacity magazine.

The investigation is ongoing, and there is no further information available at this time.
“We are grateful that our officer was not more seriously injured, and that the suspect and firearm are in custody,” said East Palo Alto Interim Police Chief Jeff Liu. “This is a stark reminder of the danger police officers face, and the ongoing dangers of gun violence. We must never forget the risk our police officers take every time they leave their families to serve our community.”

Earlier this month, East Palo Alto Police Department honored the memory of Officer Richard May, who was shot and killed while on patrol in East Palo Alto on January 7, 2006.

Anyone with information is asked to call Acting Commander Angel Sanchez at (650) 853-3154.
Prepared by:

Interim Chief Jeff Liu