San Francisco police shot and killed a purportedly armed man they say they tracked down after he allegedly hit pedestrians and a cyclist with a car on Thursday evening.
Assistant Chief David Lazar, who gave a press conference this morning, said the man was believed to be a security guard at Dior. He did not give any details about whether the man was armed at the time police shot him. Lazar said discovered a firearm “on the ground” when he arrived at the scene, which he believed belonged to the guard.
Lazar also could not confirm how many police officers fired their weapons at the man.
The driver was allegedly driving on the sidewalk around 6:30 p.m. at Kearny and Post streets and hit two pedestrians, an 18-year-old and a 17-year-old, Lazar said, in pursuit of a man on an electric bicycle. After hitting the two young women leaving a Chipotle restaurant, the driver allegedly continued toward a Latinx man on the bicycle, and hit him near Sutter and Kearny streets.
Lazar called the collision an aggravated assault, and said the man fled from the bicycle after being hit by the driver. The driver then attempted to take the bicycle in his car but was unable to; he instead took other property the cyclist had left behind, Lazar said.
Then, at 1:35 this morning, police seeking to arrest the driver used victim and witness statements and video of the scene to locate the man standing outside the Dior store near Grant Avenue and Post Street, according to Lazar.
When officers approached, police shot the man, though it is unclear how the shooting came about.
Lazar said the police would like to speak to the man on the bicycle.
“We really want to speak to the victim who the suspect attempted to run over, the Hispanic male in his 20s,” Lazar said. ‘We’d love for him to come forward, so that we can work with him and help him.”
The two pedestrians were transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The police department will hold a town hall regarding the incident within 10 days.
SFPD is asking for all witnesses and possible victims involved in the incident to contact the SFPD at 415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD. You may remain anonymous.
The victim of the hit and run was my direct family member. I know both of the young adults. He had no regard for their lives or anyone else’s life around him. Why should he regard his own. Congratulations for the PD finding the driver so quickly, and thank you Jesus for allowing both girls to live another day. It very easily could have been horrible and I’m still in awe in how blessed they were given the speed they were hit at. Thank you Lord
How do they know he was Hipanic? I work nearby and there are always delivery guys in electric bikes riding on the sidewalk aggressively… And most of them are not Hispanic. And why shoot him? Lots of questions that have not been answered.
They shot the guy CHASING the delivery biker.
Wow. Lazar’s not sure about a bunch of stuff regarding this incident, huh?
“When officers approached, police shot the man, though it is unclear how the shooting came about.”
Yeah, that’s gonna encourage bicycle guy to seek the cops’ “help.” 🙄
Dior, pfff, rubbish, I do my shopping at Hermès.
Oh No, the cops shot a security guard? What’s Brooke Jenkins going to do? The victim is not your usual progressive-homeless-mentally ill-trans-drug addict, or a person of color minding their own business. What a quandary? Brooke will probably ask herself “What would Garry Tan or Elon Musk do?” Will they tell her to side with Dior, whatever side are that may be. Or will they continue to kiss the feet of the Police Officers Association no matter the circumstances, and tell the City to give the cops more money. Lurie will be cool with that.
This man was highly respected and loved. He was an extremely intelligent and thoughtful man. The public will demand the video footage. There better be full proof that they needed to shoot him… but unfortunately I doubt there is. This will be another case of cops viciously using their power with guns instead of using rational thinking. They took out a man that was on their side who was simply trying to do the same job they do. At least his mistake of driving on the sidewalk did not result in anyone else’s death. All business owners should stand up against this tragedy because imagine hiring a security guard to stop theft and then he ends up the one murdered trying to catch a thief for you!! Utter insanity. Justice needs to be served!
All deaths are a tragedy, but extremely intelligent and thoughtful people don’t drive cars on the sidewalk in crowded areas, running people over, and then flee the scene without helping.
He hit two teenagers while trying to kill a cyclist with his car.
e-bike is to cyclist as moped is to cyclist.
Oh please.
He was a MAGA bro who hated San Francisco, but loved guns and was a former cop according to him. His mistake of driving on the sidewalk? GMAB he was obviously going after the guy on the bike and almost killed two women in the process. I am no cop lover but want to see the video before I defend this man.