MAN SHOT DEAD BY COPS DURING DRUG OPERATION

A man suspected of being a drug dealer was shot dead by Hayward police as
they tried to arrest him in a sting operation Wednesday night, moments
before a search warrant was served on the man's home in unincorporated San
Lorenzo.

Naim Mohammad Ayub, 30, was killed after three officers fired several shots
at his car, with which the slain man had allegedly tried to run them over.
His home was searched by Alameda County sheriff's deputies after the
shooting. They declined to say what was found. Narcotics officers had been
investigating Ayub's alleged sales of methamphetamine, or ``crank,'' in
Hayward, Lt. Rick Parker said. Undercover officers apparently had arranged
to buy a pound and a half of the drug, worth at least $5,000.

About 6:30 p.m., Ayub pulled into the A & V Liquors and Groceries store
parking lot, the scheduled meeting point, police said. Officers in uniform
immediately came out of cover, blocked his path with a police vehicle and
tried to arrest him.

Ayub drove forward and hit one of the officers, injuring his leg, police
said. The suspect then backed his car up and rammed into the police car
blocking his path, Alameda County sheriff's deputies said.

Ayub allegedly drove forward in an apparent attempt to hit the injured
officer again. That's when the officer and two others fired several rounds
into the car, deputies said. Ayub was pronounced dead at the scene.