SFPD officer fatally shoots man in Bayview

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - San Francisco police confirm an officer shot and killed a man in the city's Bayview District on Wednesday. 

At a news conference, Officer Robert Rueca said plainclothes officers were arresting a male suspect in the area at around 2:53 p.m. when a second man, unrelated to the arrest, engaged with the officers. 

Rueca said uniformed officers in a marked police vehicle arrived at the scene and that the second man was possibly armed with a firearm. 

Police fired upon the man who was struck by gunfire. Medics then rendered aid, and police said the item the man was armed with was seized from the scene.

Crime scene in San Francisco Bayview District. July 26, 2023.

Police said the man suffered life-threatening injury and was transported to a nearby hospital where he later died.

Police did not specify what the man was armed with. 

Witnesses said the man who was shot was confronted by police. They described hearing about four to five shots and that the man fell to the ground. Some bystanders urged police to help the man, and said CPR was performed on the person who was shot. 

"I heard four gunshots, and then I heard screaming, so I came outside," said one woman who lives in the area. "When I got to the top of the hill, there was the body of my neighbor laying on the ground unconscious." 

She did not want to give the victim's name because she wanted to be sure the family was fully notified of his death. 

One woman said the man is believed to be mentally ill.

The city's Department of Emergency Management issued an alert of "police activity" at 3:14 p.m. and advised residents to avoid the area of Fairfax Avenue and Catalina Street while police investigated.

Crime scene in San Francisco Bayview District. July 26, 2023.

Police are internally investigating this incident as well as the San Francisco District Attorney's Office and other offices of police accountability. In addition, the Chief Medical Examiner's office is investigating the death, according to police. 

KTVU's SkyFOX flew above the scene to get a look at the heavy police presence. Several blocks in the area were cordoned off. 

Police said the initial suspect, who plainclothes officers were there to arrest, is in custody. 

SFPD said they will hold a town-hall meeting on this fatal shooting incident within 10 days as part of their commitment to transparency. 

Crime scene in San Francisco Bayview District. July 26, 2023.

Crime scene in San Francisco Bayview District. July 26, 2023.

Crime scene in San Francisco Bayview District. July 26, 2023.