By Claudine Wong
Martinez, CA (KTVU/CNN) - Police and community members in California are mourning the loss of a highway patrol officer.
Officer Kenyon Youngstrom was shot and killed during a traffic stop Tuesday morning.
Police say Christopher Lacy pulled out a gun and shot Youngstrom.
Lacy was then shot and killed by Youngstrom's partner.
There were no words spoken as three officers raised the flag to half staff outside the California Highway Patrol office where Officer Youngstrom worked. But the sorrow felt by those who knew him and by those who stood in silent salute was evident on all their faces.
Across the bay area and across the state Thursday flags will fly at half staff in honor of a man who dedicated his life to serving others. A man who will be remembered for the great love he had for his faith and his family. A husband and father taken far too soon.
"It's senseless I cried when I you know I was crying when I heard about it," said Randy Stewart of Pacheco, California.
The CHP announced Officer Youngstrom's death Wednesday night outside John Muir Medical Center where he had been on life support since Tuesday's shooting.
In Fairfield where he lived with his wife and their two daughters and two sons, the community gathered for a vigil and for prayer. People came to the Martinez CHP office bringing flowers, notes, and candles. Some were strangers.
And some were part of the police and fire community that considers each other family.
In that family, being on duty is called being on watch and on this day they honor the end of watch for Officer Youngstrom.
"That's really what it's all about. You want to go back to your families after the end of the watch and this one it didn't happen," said Darrell Lee with the Moraga Orinda, California Fire District.
The father of the man accused of killing Officer Youngstrom says his son was diagnosed as bipolar.
KTVU/CNN