Officer Vierra (age 38) was shot while attempting to persuade a man who had assaulted his wife to surrender to police. The man, barricaded in his home, fired one shot from a rifle, hitting Officer Vierra in the chest killing him instantly. Officers used tear gas to force the suspect to surrender after a four hour gun battle. The suspect was convicted of first degree murder on October 31, 1929, and sentenced to life in San Quentin Prison.