3 held after shots fired at undercover cops in Oakland

Photo: Google Maps The officers were in a vehicle when one or more assailants opened...

Three suspects were arrested early Wednesday after shots were fired at undercover officers in East Oakland, police said.

The incident happened as the undercover officers were conducting surveillance on an alleged gang member they were seeking to arrest, said Oakland police Lt. Steven Nowak.

The stakeout near Harrington and Lyon avenues was part of a follow-up investigation related to a homicide that happened on the 1400 block of 90th Avenue about 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, said Officer Johnna Watson, an Oakland police spokeswoman.

The officers spotted several suspects breaking into a car about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, Watson said. The suspects noticed the officers, pointed guns at them and opened fire as they fled in a car, Watson said. The officers weren’t hurt.

“Very thankful,” Nowak told reporters. “To hear my officers getting shot at, it’s a very intense moment.”

Officers gave chase until the suspects crashed at Congress and Ygnacio avenues, about a mile away, police said. The suspects then fled on foot, and two were quickly detained, but a third disappeared in the neighborhood.

The Oakland police SWAT team was called in, and police set up a command post near 55th Avenue and Foothill Boulevard. Police found and arrested the third suspect.

Two loaded handguns were recovered, Watson said. The names of the suspects were not immediately released.

Henry K. Lee is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: hlee@sfchronicle.com