San Francisco police officer killed
in double-fatal shooting

By Matt Wynkoop, Bay City News Service

December 23, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) - A double-fatal shooting that left a San Francisco police officer and a known felony suspect dead in San Francisco's Sunset District Friday night occurred after police followed the suspect into the garage of an occupied home.

The shooting occurred at approximately 8:37 p.m. after police officers attempted to serve a warrant on a man who was described as armed and dangerous in the area of 25th Avenue and Lawton Street, police said.

According to San Francisco police Sgt. Steve Mannina, after leading police up to a home on the 1600 block of 25th Avenue, the suspect kicked down a side door to the home's garage and ran inside. When officers in pursuit followed the suspect through the broken down door, the suspect opened fire on the officers, hitting one officer in the head.

"It looks as though the suspect had a pretty good lead on the officers,'' Mannina said. "The suspect then turned and fired on the officers as they entered the garage.''

Another officer then shot the suspect, who collapsed a short distance away, Mannina said. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mannina described the interior of the garage as having a large dividing wall between carports, as well as a separate exit headed to a backyard.

Residents of the home were reportedly upstairs at the time of the shooting, but were not involved in the incident, Mannina said.

Police had initially attempted to detain the suspect, who Mannina described as "a wanted suspect who had an outstanding felony warrant,'' after having seen him walking on 25th Avenue earlier in the evening. The suspect fled from police at that point into a backyard in the area, at which point officers set up a perimeter to begin a search.

It was after the perimeter had been set up that a group of officers saw the suspect a short distance away and began the foot pursuit that would lead to the fatal shooting, Mannina said.

The officer, a four and a half year veteran of the department, was transported to San Francisco General Hospital where he was kept on life support until 12:01 a.m. today, Mannina said.

Police continue to investigate the shooting this morning.

Copyright © 2006 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.

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