Murder suspect killed by police had toy gun

A man who was gunned down by police Thursday morning after barricading himself in his Sunnyvale home as investigators attempted to serve a search warrant and a warrant for his arrest for a woman’s murder was apparently armed with a BB rifle, a Sunnyvale police captain said today.

Glen Griggs, 53, was shot after officers went to his home at 498 N. Fair Oaks Ave. that morning with a search warrant to look for evidence in the suspected murder of Molly Franquemont, who was 40 when she went missing in March 2013, according to Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety Capt. Jeff Hunter said.

Franquemont had been living at Griggs’ between January and March 2013 before she went missing that March, Hunter said. They were apparently acquaintances. Investigators believe she was murdered and Griggs was responsible.

When police tried to get into the home to serve the warrant, they received no response and had to force entry, Hunter said.

They found Griggs barricaded inside and he said he had a firearm and made verbal threats against the officers’ lives, according to Hunter. He came out from a room and displayed a rifle, Hunter said.

One of the officers fired a less-than-lethal rubber baton round at him, but it had no effect. After refusing to drop his weapon, Griggs then allegedly moved the rifle toward the officers, who then fired at him, Hunter said.

He was taken to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose, where he died of his injuries. Hunter said the weapon Griggs was carrying was a BB gun rifle that was not marked as a replica rifle.

The four officers who were involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave, Hunter said.

Hunter identified the officers as Chris Ketchum, who has worked for the department for six years; Joel Lockwood, a 12-year veteran of the force; Greg Othon, a 14-year veteran; and Mark Jorgensen, a 5-year veteran.

A joint investigation into the shooting is being conducted by Sunnyvale police and the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.

Investigators are still looking for more information about Franquemont’s disappearance and suspected murder, Hunter said. Anyone with information is asked to call Sunnyvale Detective Alan Harnett at (408) 730-7138.

— Sasha Lekach, Bay City News