Tonight: Stern Grove Town Hall On Shooting Of SFPD Officer, Rising Crime Concerns

Tonight: Stern Grove Town Hall On Shooting Of SFPD Officer, Rising Crime ConcernsPhoto: Wayne Hsieh/Flickr
Walter Thompson
Published on October 20, 2016

Tonight, police will hold a 6pm town hall at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center (2850 19th Ave.) to discuss Friday's police shooting in the Sunset, which critically injured and partially paralyzed a Taraval Station officer. The shooting sparked a manhunt that ended in the alleged gunman's capture, arrest, and subsequent death.

The incident started Friday night when Nicholas McWherter, 26, was approached by police after reports that he was involved in a altercation inside Big 5 Sporting Goods at Lakeshore Plaza. After shooting 25-year-old officer Kevin Downs in the head, McWherter fled the scene and across the street, into Stern Grove.

(1) Store where shooting occurred; (2) Playground where McWherter was apprehended. | VIA GOOGLE MAPS

Police tracked him to a playground near 28th Ave. & Vicente, where they used non-lethal flashbang grenades before shooting him. On Sunday, McWherter succumbed to his injuries.

Downs, a member of the force for two years, is recovering at San Francisco General Hospital, where he is listed in good condition, despite suffering from partial paralysis. As of today, a GoFundMe campaign created in his name has raised $29,421 of its $5,000 goal.

The last SFPD officer to be shot in the line of duty was Bryan Tuvera, also of Taraval Station, who was killed while trying to apprehend an escaped convict on 25th Avenue in December 2006.

Big 5 Sporting Goods security video of Nicholas McWherter. | VIA NBC4

The Chronicle reports that McWherter, a Pacifica native, struggled with mental illness and had recently "lost his way" after fighting "a long, hard, and brave battle to defeat his disease," according to a statement by his family.

On Facebook and Nextdoor, many residents who perceive that crime is on the rise in the neighborhood have said they plan to attend tonight's meeting. Although violent incidents occur from time to time, police reports have generally indicated that disturbing the peace, thefts from vehicles and burglaries are the leading types of crimes near Stern Grove.

In a message posted on her station's website, Taraval Station Capt. Denise Flaherty acknowledged that violent crime has risen this month in the OMI (Oceanside, Merced, Ingleside) neighborhood. Robberies and vehicle break-ins experienced a "slight" uptick, but "our largest increase came in the area of burglaries."

Flaherty said officers are also working closely with officials at San Francisco State University to address a "significant increase" in residential break-ins near Stonestown, which started in September.

Acting Chief Toney Chaplin will attend tonight's town hall, along with Flaherty and other members of the department's command staff. 

Thanks to tipster Nancy H.