San Francisco police officers were involved in a fatal shooting that took place after a vehicle burglary Tuesday night, a police spokesman said.
Officers who were assigned to monitor the area of AT&T Park saw a suspicious vehicle casing other cars near Jack London Alley and Bryant Street around 9 p.m., according to police Officer Gordon Shyy.
Officers watched the suspects emerge from their car and commit a vehicle burglary on a Mercedes SUV parked on Jack London Alley, Shyy said.
When the officers approached the vehicle to make contact with the suspects, they noticed that the driver had a handgun, according to Shyy.
One of the officers ordered the driver to drop the handgun, but the driver refused, forcing the officer to discharge his firearm in defense of himself and others, Shyy said.
Both the driver and rear passenger in the vehicle were struck by the gunfire, according to Shyy.
The front passenger of the vehicle attempted to flee on foot but was quickly apprehended by officers on Bryant Street.
The two suspects hit by gunfire were taken to San Francisco General Hospital, where the driver died from his injuries, according to Shyy.
The second suspect hit by gunfire is expected to survive, Shyy said.
The suspect’s firearm was recovered at the location of the shooting, as was all of the stolen property from the Mercedes SUV.
The suspect that was not taken to the hospital was instead taken to Southern Station for interviewing by investigators.
The officer who discharged his gun will be on 10-day administrative leave, which is standard practice, according to Shyy.
The investigation into this incident is ongoing, Shyy said.
Andrew Dickey, Bay City News
