A 21-year-old man suspected of shooting and killing a San Francisco Bay Area police sergeant at a traffic stop on Wednesday morning, has been arrested.

LA Times reported that the suspect, Mark Anthony Estrada, an Oakland resident, has been transported to the Highland Hospital, where he is being treated for gun shots wounds.

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Preliminary investigation revealed that although Estrada does not have a criminal record, he has gang ties. The exact reason why he opened fire on Hayward officer Sgt. Scott Lunger is yet to be ascertained.

"There is no why," Hayward Police Chief Diane Urban said. "It's an absolutely senseless murder."

The deadly incident happened at around 3:15 a.m., after Sgt. Lunger stopped a white Chevrolet pick-up driving recklessly.

Hayward Police Cpt. Mark Koller said when the driver pulled over and 48-year Lunger confronted him, there was a scuffle. The driver then opened fire without warning.

According to Fox News, Sgt. Lunger's partner returned fire before reporting the shooting and the fact that an officer had been shot.

After the shootout, Lunger was transported to the Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, where he died.

"We lost a warrior today," Urban said. "Sgt. Lunger was that it guy."

"He truly represented what we do every day in this line of work... This is a dangerous job and Sgt. Lunger knew it was a dangerous job."

Authorities immediately began tracing the shooter following the incident. A vehicle matching police description was found abandoned in Oakland shortly afterwards. The white pick-up was ripped with bullet holes. After searching Estrada's residence based on information recovered from his vehicle, police found ammunition and bloody clothing.

Sgt. Lunger has served in the force for over 15 years and was made sergeant in 2009. He is the second Bay Area police officer to lose his life in the line of duty this year.

The relatives of the slain officer have been informed of his demise. He was a father of two daughters.

"This is a very devastating, dark day for the community of Hayward, Hayward police and the men and women of law enforcement...we are pulling together and we will get through this," Cpt. Koller said.

According to Police Lt. Eric Krimm, Hayward Police, the Alameda County Sheriff's Department and the California Highway Patrol are jointly investigating the shooting.

TagsHayward Police Officer Shooting, Mark Anthony Estrada, Sgt. Scott Lunger, Scott Lunger, Hayward Officer Shooting, Hayward Cop Shooting