San Francisco Trader Joe's theft suspect killed by car as he fled, 2 officers struck

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A San Francisco police officer investigates a theft at Trader Joe's. June 12, 2026

SAN FRANCISCO - A man trying to steal items from Trader Joe's in San Francisco on Friday morning was killed by the driver of a car as he was running away from two police officers, who also were struck and injured in the same accident, police said.

‘Chaotic scene’

What they're saying:

"It was a very chaotic scene," Public Information Officer Robert Rueca told reporters outside the Trader Joe’s at California and Hyde streets in Nob Hill.

Rueca said that the police officers were called out about 7:40 a.m. to the grocery store on a report of a theft. He said he wasn't sure what was taken, police hadn't gotten that far in the investigation yet. Trader Joe's opens at 8 a.m.

Running away

The suspect – described only as an adult male – did not comply with police, Rueca said, and he began to run away on foot.

Louis Wong, president of the San Francisco Police Officers Association union, sent out a statement describing this alternation as a "violent struggle."

The police officers pursued him, Rueca said, and all three were struck by the driver of an oncoming car, unrelated to the situation at Trader Joe's.

Both officers were pinned beneath the oncoming car, Wong said.

All three were taken to the hospital, where the suspect was pronounced dead, police said.

Both officers sustained leg injuries and are expected to recover, Wong said.

From the scene, it appeared as though the car was a dark gray Lexus.

Rueca said the driver has been cooperating with police.

Officer pinned

Dig deeper:

A witness described to KTVU that they saw one officer pinned underneath the Lexus, and firefighters said they had to extricate one of the victims from the car.

The witness said the other officer was seen lying on the street next to the Lexus.

Authorities were in the area at the same time investigating an arson, Rueca said.

At this point, he said it's not clear if the two situations are related.

Images at the scene showed multiple police officers, including some from the burglary unit looking for evidence, alongside a cable car, which was prevented from leaving the area because of the evidence being collected in front of it on the street.