Man killed in shootout with South San Francisco Police

Armed suspect killed in police shooting in South San Francisco neighborhood

A man armed with a handgun and shotgun was shot and killed by police Monday after opening fire in a South San Francisco neighborhood. Witnesses reported hearing dozens of gunshots as heavily armed officers responded.

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - A man was killed in a shootout with South San Francisco police on Monday evening.

The South San Francisco Police Department responded about 5:50 p.m. to the 300 block of Arroyo Drive on reports of a person armed with a gun, and the suspect shot at officers shortly after they arrived, according to a department statement.

Police said the man also fired into an occupied residence "multiple times." Officers returned fire, striking the man at least once.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene. His name was withheld, though police noted he was 60 years old.

Authorities also discovered he was armed with a pistol and a shotgun at the time of the shooting.

The backstory:

The SSFPD said on social media around 6:35 p.m. that officers were in the 300 block of Arroyo Drive and advised residents to stay out of the area.

"At first, I heard five loud boom, boom, boom, boom... and I just thought it was my neighbor doing some construction next door," said Daniel Finnegan, who lives on Arroyo Drive. "But then I come outside, and I see all the cop cars... and next thing you know everybody's got their guns out and a cop comes running down the street and says everybody get into your house and shelter in place."

Finnegan, a lifelong resident of the neighborhood, said the shooting escalated quickly.

"Within an 8 minute period, I heard about 30, 40 shots, and never experienced anything like that and it was scary," he said.

Other witnesses also reported hearing heavy gunfire and seeing SWAT officers move through the area.

"You just heard two different shots... one louder than the other, so it seemed like they were exchanging fire," said Victor Rangel of Half Moon Bay.

"All I heard was a lot of cop cars going back and forth," said Axel Lanza, who lives nearby. "I'm like what the hell is going on? Then I saw the SWAT team go on El Camino Real, and that I just heard six, seven gun shots."

The shelter in place was lifted about an hour after it was issued.

"It’s scary, there’s lot of kids around here, there’s an elementary school down the street, it’s pretty dangerous," said Lanza.

Jesus Ojeda, who lives behind the home where the shooting occurred, said he was outside doing yard work when the gunfire erupted.

"He said he heard gunshots fly through his backyard, because he lives right behind," Ojeda said through an interpreter. "It’s very sad that this had to happen since it’s a very good neighborhood."

Police said no officers were injured in the shooting. Authorities remained on the scene into the evening as the investigation continued.

The Source: South San Francisco Police Department

Featured