The suspect in the shooting of a Taraval Station SFPD officer, who died yesterday afternoon from injuries sustained in the subsequent manhunt and arrest, has been identified. According to police, he is 26-year-old Pacifica resident Nicholas McWherter.
McWherter was shot by police on Friday night, about an hour after opening fire on two officers who responded to a call that he was threatening patrons at the Big 5 sporting goods store in the Lakeshore Shopping Center. The shots severely injured 25-year-old officer Kevin Downs (whose identity, initially reported by the Chronicle, SFPD has yet to officially confirm).
Downs, who has been on the force for two years, sustained bullet fragments in his brain, and was partially paralyzed in the attack. "One centimeter down, and this may have been a fatality for the officer," acting SFPD chief Chaplin said yesterday.
This is the image officers got Friday from security camera identified as the suspect as they looked for him after shooting. pic.twitter.com/cgvDRjJpgp
— Vic Lee (@vicleeabc7) October 17, 2016
After he allegedly shot Downs, police chased McWherter towards Stern Grove, where he ultimately emerged from the bushes at 28th Avenue and Vicente. He refused to drop his weapon as instructed, and was subsequently shot by officers. Even after collapsing, he continued to refuse to surrender, and officers were only able to arrest him after distracting him with flashbang grenades.
McWherter died at SF General around 3:15pm yesterday afternoon, according to police. Downs remains hospitalized as he continues to recover from his injuries.
