Tourist Shot During Attempted Robbery On Russian Hill [Updated]

Tourist Shot During Attempted Robbery On Russian Hill [Updated]Photos: Geri Koeppel/Hoodline
Geri Koeppel
Published on August 25, 2015

A male tourist was shot in the upper torso during an attempted robbery on Russian Hill shortly after noon today, SFPD spokesperson Officer Carlos Manfredi said in a press conference at the scene. Both suspects were in custody within three hours.

The call came in at 12:09pm, reporting that shots were fired on Lombard Street near Jones Street; the victim immediately was transported to San Francisco General Hospital. "We believe it was a robbery, that they attempted to try to take something from this individual," Manfredi said. He confirmed it was an electronic device, but couldn't say if it was a camera, a phone or other item. An anonymous source told Hoodline the victim is in stable condition, and SFPD Central Station Capt. David Lazar confirmed it. 


After the shooting, the suspect and a second suspect fled in a vehicle at a high rate of speed, Manfredi said. Central Station officers pursued the vehicle over the Bay Bridge and to Emeryville to the 1000 block of 60th Street on the border of Oakland. SFPD, California Highway Patrol officers, Emeryville police and Oakland police were involved. One suspect was in custody by the time Manfredi gave the press conference at about 2:20pm, and Oakland police tweeted at 3:11 that the second suspect had been arrested, no additional suspects were being sought and the roads had been reopened.

Update, 8/24, 5pm: SFPD spokesman Albie Esparza confirmed that SFPD Tactical Division and Emeryville Police Department Canine took the second suspect into custody.


The shooting happened half a block from the Yick Wo Elementary School, 2245 Jones St., and just down the hill from the popular tourist area of the "Crooked Street" part of Lombard just west of Leavenworth Street.  Officers had secured Lombard from Jones to Taylor streets. Children were heard playing at recess as reporters gathered to wait for the press conference.

During the press conference, tourists were seen milling around at the bottom of the Crooked Street, and several of them, seeing the squad cars, police officers and a collection of reporters, stopped by to ask about what was happening.


One local visitor, Shelley Guo of Richmond, was in the neighborhood shortly after the incident. "It was very terrible," she said. "We didn't hear anything, but we're scared right now." She said her friends visiting from China were "so shocked, because it's the first time for them seeing this."

Coincidentally, Tina Moylan of Russian Hill Neighbors recently organized a Safety Fair slated for 6–9pm Friday at Tel-Hi Center, 660 Lombard St., in response to a series of sexual attacks in the area.

District 3 Supervisor Julie Christensen released a statement shortly after 3pm strongly condemning the shooting and reading in part, "I am deeply troubled and angry about the assault on a visitor to our City that occurred this afternoon. There are no apologies or wishes that can adequately offset the impacts of this vicious crime. I urge anyone with any information about this incident to contact the Police Department with information."

Update, 8/25, 8:40am: This morning's SFPD daily recap included more details on this incident. The victim involved is 30; the suspects are 24 and 25. The suspect vehicle was a red, four-door Cadillac CTS. A suspect approached the victim and demanded his property, and when he refused, the suspect then took his camera by force. The victim followed the suspect to his vehicle, and a second suspect in the passenger seat pulled out a handgun and fired at the victim.