A man whom San Francisco police officers shot and killed Sunday when he pulled a gun from his waistband while trespassing on private police property had personally planned his own demise. He had written several suicide notes on his phone, one of which was addressed to police officers.
The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) released one of the deceased’s suicide letters after gaining permission from his father. In the letter, he wrote, “You did nothing wrong.” He then went on to explain to the officers that what they did was completely within their legal rights. The note in its entirety states:
Dear Officer(s),
You did nothing wrong. You ended the life of a man who was too much of a coward to do it himself. I provoked you. I threatened your life as well as the lives of those around me. You were completely within your legal rights to do what you did. You followed protocols. You did everything right. I just want to find peace within myself. I am so sad and I am so lonely. There is no place for me here. Please, don’t blame yourself. I used you. I took advantage of you. I am so lost and I am so hopeless. God made a mistake with me. I shouldn’t be here. Please, take solace in knowing that the situation was out of your control. You had no other choice.
The unidentified man, 32, had approached officers earlier in the day on Sunday on 16th Street, asking them about the types of weapons they used. Later that same day, he reportedly showed up at the clearly marked, restricted-accesss SFPD’s Mission Station parking lot located at 613 Valencia Street and was asked to leave twice but refused.
According to the police department, the man then began backing out of the parking lot while facing the sergeants, with both hands in his shirt pockets. He then lifted his sweater and reached in his waistband to draw a gun. “Fearing for their safety and in defense of their lives, the sergeants drew their service weapons as the suspect pulled the weapon from his waistband. Two sergeants discharged their firearms, striking the suspect three times,” notes the release.
The gun was later discovered to be a BB or pellet gun. The man was rushed to the San Francisco General Hospital, where he died of his wounds just before 8 p.m.
The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave which is in line with standard police protocol in such incidents. SFPD Chief Greg Suhr will hold a town hall meeting on Tuesday evening at the Cornerstone Church located at 3459 17th Street to discuss the investigation.
Adelle Nazarian is on Twitter @AdelleNaz.
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