George Court Officer Involved Shooting
On March 5, 2013 at approximately 6:49 PM, four uniformed San Francisco Police Officers were traveling in a marked SFPD police car and were patrolling the Bayview Hunters Point Public Housing Properties near Ingalls and Kiska Road. The officers saw a silver BMW sedan that was wanted in connection with an armed carjacking, in which the suspect used a long barreled gun (rifle or shotgun). When the suspect failed stop, the officers initiated a pursuit of the vehicle which ended in the cul-de-sac of George Court.
Upon reaching the end of George Court, the suspect vehicle stopped. The officers exited their patrol car with the intent of ordering the suspect out of the vehicle. The suspect, however, refused to stop and drove in reverse towards the officers. The rear of the suspect vehicle stuck the front end of the police car. The suspect vehicle continued backwards, striking an officer. The vehicle continued in reverse, struck a second police car and came to a stop. The officer that was struck was now in front of the suspect vehicle and in danger of being struck again as it began moving forward. Other officers, fearing for the life of the officer who was in the path of the suspect vehicle, discharged their firearms at the suspect. The suspect drove forward and crashed into a residential building where the vehicle came to rest.
The suspect sustained a non-life threatening gunshot wound. He was taken into custody and transported by ambulance to San Francisco General Hospital. At the time of this press release, the suspect had not been booked. His name and booking charges are pending and will be released at a later time. The officer that was struck by the vehicle sustained non-life threatening injuries and was treated and released by paramedics. None of the other officers involved were injured.
Investigators noted that the suspect and vehicle bore similarities to an ongoing robbery series in which a shotgun has been used. Robbery Inspectors will be looking into the similarities to determine if there is any connection.
This incident is being investigated by the SFPD Homicide Detail, which investigates officer involved shootings, the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, the SFPD Internal Affairs Division and the Office of Citizen’s Complaints.
This is an ongoing investigation and anyone who witnessed this incident is asked to contact SFPD homicide investigators at (415) 553-1145, the Anonymous Tip Line at (415) 575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD.