Suspected drug dealer dies
in San Francisco after
officer-involved shooting

Officers named

By Angela Hokanson and Tamara Barak,
Bay City News Service

June 25, 2006, updated 10:30 p.m.

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) - A suspected drug dealer shot by San Francisco police in the Mission District Saturday night died early this morning, according to San Francisco police Sgt. Neville Gittens.

Oliver Lefiti, a 36-year-old South San Francisco resident, died this morning at San Francisco General Hospital, where he was taken after the Saturday evening incident, Gittens said.

San Francisco police has released the names of the two officers; Jamie Hyun and Gerard Arquero. Hyun has been with the Police Department for nearly four years, and Arquero has been with the Police Department for approximately six years, Gittens said.

Lefiti allegedly drove his car at police, who fired at him in response.

The incident began around 5:15 p.m. Saturday when a citizen called police to report a man selling drugs out of a blue Honda on Hoff Street near 16th Street.

Officers responded, but the car was gone. At 5:55 p.m., two officers spotted the vehicle with Lefiti inside parked on Capp Street between 15th and 16th streets, Gittens said.

The officers, who were both in uniform, stopped their patrol car in front of the vehicle and got out. The officers then reported that they told Lefiti to step out of his car and put his hands up, Gittens said.

"The officers stated that he refused to do that and instead drove his vehicle toward them. Officers stated they fired at (Lefiti)," Gittens said.

The vehicle continued to travel between 50-75 yards past the officers and came to rest after crashing into a parked car.

After discovering Lefiti had been shot, police called for paramedics and Lefiti was taken to San Francisco General Hospital.

The Police Department's homicide unit is investigating the incident, which is routine in officer-involved shootings. The San Francisco district attorney's office will also investigate the incident.

Neither officer was hurt. Police have not yet released the names of the officers involved in the shooting.

An autopsy will be performed on Lefiti early this week, according to the San Francisco Medical Examiner's office.

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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