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Police: Slain Officer Was Seeking Stolen Laptop

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Authorities say a San Francisco Bay Area public transit officer who was shot and killed by a fellow officer while searching an apartment was looking for a laptop and other stolen items.

Bay Area Rapid Transit Police Chief Kenton Rainey declined on Wednesday to disclose any further details of how the shooting of Sgt. Tom Smith occurred.

Rainey said at a news conference that there were seven BART officers and an Alameda County sheriff's deputy at the scene. A robbery suspect was in custody.

Five of the seven BART officers were detectives in plain clothes, including Smith.

Rainey declined to name the officer who shot Smith, but said that officer was extremely upset.

Smith was shot on Tuesday. Investigators are trying to determine whether a weapon discharged accidentally, or the officer mistook Smith for someone else.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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