San Francisco man shot by police ID'd
Nicholas McWherter
The San Francisco Police officer shot by a gunman in the city's Sunset District Friday is still recovering in the hospital with his family by his side.
KTVU has also learned more details about the suspect who officers say died yesterday.
A freeze frame from surveillance video shows 26 year old Nicholas McWherter inside the Big 5 Sporting Goods store off Sloat Blvd around 8pm Friday.
Police say the suspect was trying to buy a knife, fought with security and then ran off, later shooting Officer Kevin Downs in the head. More than an hour later, McWherter was surrounded at 28th and Vicente near Stern Grove where officers deployed flash grenades and shot him. He was pronounced dead Sunday.
Sources at SFPD tell KTVU McWherter had been living out of his van, most recently parked in front of a house on 17th Avenue near Kirkham.
"I noticed a white van parked outside of my house and it was there for several days," said Jeremy Bornstein. Bornstein said police towed away the van Saturday night.
"I mean, that's crazy!" exclaimed neighbor Abraham Drucker, who just learned McWherter's identity and the fact that he had a gun. "I don't think I ever saw the guy, I might have but there's always a lot of people in and out of that house."
"It's quite concerning of course because I have family and children." said Bornstein.
Friends of McWherter tell KTVU that the 26 year old was raised in Pacifica along with his three brothers, one of whom actually called police the day of the shooting to report him missing. They say McWherter suffered from mental illness and had recently gone off his medication.
McWherter's family has met with the Downs family to offer its condolences.
While downs is expected to survive, he had to undergo surgery to remove bullet fragments from his skull.
He is said to be suffering some paralysis on one side of his body but doctors are hopeful that he may regain movement.
His family, including wife and father, who is a retired SFPD lieutenant have been by Kevin's side since the shooting. They are requesting privacy at this time.