The man accused of shooting a Taraval Station SFPD officer in the Sunset on Friday night, resulting in a major manhunt, has died. According to police, the suspect, who remains unnamed, succumbed to his injuries at SF General at 3:16pm this afternoon.
The officer, identified by the Chronicle as Kevin Downs, suffered significant injuries in the attack. He sustained partial paralysis from a shot to his head, and acting SFPD chief Toney Chaplin told ABC7 that he underwent surgery to remove bullet fragments from his brain. He continues to recover in the hospital. "One centimeter down, and this may have been a fatality for the officer," Chaplin said yesterday.
#UPDATE: This is the surveillance photo used during search for man who shot & hurt @SFPD officer, police say. https://t.co/tXmqLH9UmF pic.twitter.com/6Tz3Ofc24l
— NBC Bay Area (@nbcbayarea) October 15, 2016
Friday night's incident began when the suspect reportedly threatened customers at the Big 5 sporting goods store in the Lakeshore Shopping Center. Downs and his partner responded, and after a foot chase, the suspect allegedly shot Downs at nearby Everglade Drive.
Police undertook a significant manhunt at Stern Grove, ultimately cornering the suspect at a playground near 28th Avenue & Vicente. He was injured in an exchange of gunfire, and taken to the hospital, where his family was at his bedside yesterday.
We'll keep you posted on the suspect's identity as we learn more.
