Police Chief Greg Suhr said police were called to the scene at 9:57 a.m. when a homeless outreach team reported someone waving a large kitchen knife.
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Suhr has proposed changes to the department’s use of force policies in response to the controversy, including an increased emphasis on conflict deescalation and the use of non-lethal force, as well as new equipment including shields and Tasers. Seven casings were recoverd from the scene, the chief added. Once the officers arrived and contact was made the officers fired four “bean bag” type projectiles from an Extended Range Impact Weapon.
Police obtained the surveillance video and confirmed its authenticity but declined to release it publicly.
Gary Siegel, who works at an auto body shop around the corner from the shooting, said he was on the phone when he heard six to nine quick rapid gunshots.
The U.S. Department of Justice agreed to review the department’s policies and procedures after five police officers fired 20 bullets to kill Mario Woods, 26, on December 2 in an incident captured on video and circulated widely online. Witnesses told reporters, however, that the man did not brandish a knife. Responding officers reported that the man then charged officers and two of them opened fire, Suhr said.
According to the police chief, the suspect had been living in an alley located close to the incident and that he’d been there for a couple of months prior to the shooting.
“Everybody carries something for protection here”, Visor said.
Visor and Grant knew the man only as Jose.
“He didn’t charge at no officers, he was going in circles because he didn’t understand what they were saying”, Visor said.
The latest shooting came after the police commission agreed Wednesday to reconsider its ban on arming officers with stun guns in the wake of Woods’ death and the 2014 killing of Alex Nieto, a college student carrying a stun gun that officers mistook for a handgun. Lee said he has requested an independent investigation from the Office of Citizen complaints in addition to the customary investigations by the Police Department and district attorney.
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The mayor said in a statement that “we are all striving to make sure officer involved shootings are rare and only occur as a last resort”.
