Hayward, California — On March 12, 2025, just after 4 a.m., Hayward Police Dispatch received a 9-1-1 call reporting a burglary in progress at a home on the 100 Block of Virginia Street. Two elderly residents awoke to a man, later identified as 42-year-old Nathan Hoang, who had forced entry through a patio door. While on the phone with 9-1-1, the caller saw Hoang in the front yard approaching their home. Multiple Hayward Police officers responded to the scene. The location of Hoang was not immediately known. When officers approached the front door of the 9-1-1 caller’s home, they heard yelling inside. Officers forced entry and saw Hoang in the backyard before he jumped a fence into a neighboring property. As officers established a perimeter, officer Jiang located Hoang running from the street, climbing a fence, and jumping onto the rooftop of a nearby home.
Officers attempted to talk Hoang down from the roof, but he did not respond. Hoang eventually jumped into the backyard and ran. Hoang jumped another fence between two homes and was spotted by officer Macias, who ordered him to get on the ground. Hoang did not comply and ran while holding a screwdriver. Multiple officers deployed less-lethal tasers. When one of the taser deployments took effect, officer Macias moved in to detain Hoang. Hoang dropped the screwdriver but resisted as officers attempted to handcuff him. Once detained, he was moved to a seated position. After refusing to comply with multiple lawful commands, officers approached Hoang attempting to take him into custody. During the apprehension attempt, Hoang swung a screwdriver at an officer, posing an immediate threat to officer safety. Emergency medical personnel were called to the scene.
After Hoang was placed in the recovery position, his care was transferred to paramedics. Hoang was placed on a gurney. He was awake and vocalizing as he was wheeled to the ambulance. While under the care of Falck Paramedics in the Ambulance, Hoang suffered a medical emergency. A paramedic called for officer assistance to perform CPR. Hoang was transported to the hospital in critical but stable condition. He was later transferred to another facility, where his condition worsened. Hoang died nine days later, on march 21. The Alameda County Coroner’s Office determined the following: cause of death: Anoxic Encephalopathy (brain damage due to lack of oxygen), resulting from cardiac arrest. The cardiac arrest was caused by the combined effects of methamphetamine toxicity, an enlarged heart (cardiomegaly), and physiologic stress from exertion and physical altercation.
