San Bruno police released video surveillance footage today of an armed and apparently suicidal man who robbed a sporting goods store of a shotgun Wednesday afternoon before he was fatally shot by police when he opened fire atop a hospital in San Francisco’s Mission District.
The suspect, identified today by the San Francisco medical examiner’s office as 25-year-old San Jose resident Javier Lopez Garcia, was fatally shot by San Francisco police officers atop a construction site at California Pacific Medical Center’s St. Luke’s campus at 3555 Cesar Chavez St.
San Francisco police said Garcia matches the description of an armed robbery suspect reported at the Big 5 Sporting Goods store at 855 El Camino Real in San Bruno roughly a half-hour before the incident atop the hospital.
San Francisco police inspectors confirmed that a pistol and a stolen shotgun similar to the one stolen in the robbery were in Garcia’s possession when he was killed.
San Bruno police Lt. Tim Mahon said today that officers responded to a report of an armed robbery at the sporting good store at 3:51 p.m. Wednesday but were unable to find the suspect.
Officers responded to the store, but were unable to find the suspect.
However, the armed robbery was captured on video surveillance footage that shows the suspect, wearing white overalls with a black sweatshirt underneath, brandish a black semi-automatic handgun in front of three people behind the sales counter.
San Bruno police said the suspect produced a note demanding a shotgun. The man then proceeded to tell employees at the sporting goods store that he was suicidal, according to police.
The suspect took a shotgun and ammunition with him as he exited the business, San Bruno police said.
San Francisco police officers responded at 4:15 p.m. to reports of a man armed with multiple guns atop the hospital construction site, police said.
Responding officers heard shots being fired and came across a man, later identified as Garcia, standing on top of a construction elevator and pointing a rifle at the hospital.
Police said Garcia then lowered the rifle and pointed it down toward the officers. Three officers fired at Garcia, who died at the scene.
As the incident was unfolding, San Bruno police contacted San Francisco police to determine whether the shooter matched the description of the man wanted for the sporting goods store robbery.
Following the shooting, police performed a protective sweep of the construction area and hospital but did not find any other suspects or victims. No injuries to officers or civilians were reported.
Officers are examining Garcia’s vehicle, which was located at the Scene.
According to the medical examiner’s office, an autopsy examination is being conducted to determine Garcia’s cause of death.
San Francisco police said they plan to release the names of the officers involved in the shooting 10 days after the incident and that they are working to schedule an town hall meeting to discuss the incident with the community.
Hannah Albarazi and Dennis Culver, Bay City News
