Officer critical but conscious after Friday shooting

A San Francisco police officer is in critical condition, but is alert and with family members after being shot in the head while responding to a disturbance inside the Lakeshore Shopping Plaza Friday night around 8:15 p.m., according to police officials.

Calls came to police regarding a person making threats in the shopping plaza and causing a disturbance.

Police officers located the suspect near Sloat Boulevard and Everglade Drive where the suspect fired multiple shots, striking one police officer in the head. The partner of the injured police officer called for back up units, according to police.

Police said the suspect headed toward Sigmund Stern Grove, prompting them to set up a perimeter around the park. SFPD’s Tactical Unit created a plan to capture the suspect.

A shelter in place was in place in the area and police stopped traffic near 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard while police searched for the suspect.

Officers located the suspect on Vicente Street and 28th Avenue emerging from the bushes. Several officers chased the suspect and fired at the suspect, striking him, police said.

The suspect went down, but still held his firearm to his chest and refusing multiple verbal commands from officers to surrender. Police said it used flash bang devices to distract the suspect, and later tweeted that SWAT took the suspect into custody.

The suspect was taken to San Francisco General Hospital to treat his injuries.

Suspect involved in the shooting incident has been taken into custody by #SFPD SWAT. #SF

— San Francisco Police (@SFPD) October 15, 2016

San Francisco Police Department Interim Chief Toney Chaplin said in a statement:

“Our officers each day put their lives at risk to protect and serve San Francisco and we are grateful for the outpouring of support we saw Friday evening from San Franciscans who were concerned for the officer’s well-being.”

SFPD thanked the Daly City Police Department and the San Bruno Police Department assisting for the apprehension of the suspect.

KTVU reports that SFPD will give an update on the incident later this morning.

Jerold Chinn

Jerold serves as a reporter and San Francisco Bureau Chief for SFBay covering transportation and occasionally City Hall and the Mayor's Office in San Francisco. His work on transportation has been recognized by the San Francisco Press Club. Born and raised in San Francisco, he graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in journalism. Jerold previously wrote for the San Francisco Public Press, a nonprofit, noncommercial news organization. When not reporting, you can find Jerold taking Muni to check out new places to eat in the city.