Slain Sheriff Recruit Laid To Rest In Livermore

Livermore CA

25 January, 2022

10:07 PM

Description

LIVERMORE, CA — A funeral was held in Livermore Monday for a 28-year-old Alameda County Sheriff's Office recruit shot and killed while driving home on I-580 Jan. 4. At Livermore's Cornerstone Fellowship Church, family, friends, and fellow recruits recalled a man with "infectious" energy who was the "best friend anyone could ask for." "David was one in a billion, I knew our friendship would last a lifetime," said Isaac Demma, a fellow recruit from the Alameda County Sheriff's Office's 172nd Class. "Weeks before he left us, we would talk about being old men together. Having families of our own. It's a shame we won't be able to be old men together." That dream was cut short Jan. 4, when Nguyen was out of uniform and was driving his personal car home on I-580 near the Bay Bridge Toll Plaza. "David was traveling home to San Francisco after academy training when he was shot and killed for no apparent reason. He is survived by his parents and siblings," a sheriff's statement said. According to the statement, Nguyen crashed into a guardrail after being shot at, and died from his injuries shortly after. The Deputy Sheriff's Association of Alameda County is investigating the shooting, and offering a $10,000 reward for information. So far, no arrests have been made. Nguyen was born in Vietnam and moved with his family to San Francisco's Bayview neighborhood, according to the East Bay Times. He spent eight years in the California National Guard, and received full military honors. His closed casket was draped in an American flag. Alameda County Sheriff Greg Ahern said that Nguyen was "everything you'd want in a future law enforcement officer," and noted that the 172nd Training Academy will add "Yeah, baby!" – one of Nguyen's signature phrases – to its academy sign. Nguyen would have graduated Feb. 1. "It is our duty to continue living his legacy," Nguyen's sister Barbara said. "To be kind. Compassionate and take care of your loved one. Take care of the community. That's what David would have wanted." The sheriff's office set up a GoFundMe account to raise $100,000 for the funeral in other expenses. By Tuesday evening it had raised $88,000. — GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner.