The San Francisco Police Department held a virtual town hall meeting recently to dissect the events surrounding a September 13 officer-involved shooting in the Tenderloin district. The incident, which resulted in the non-fatal shooting of 30-year-old Justin Matthew Alderman, has been met with scrutiny and a promise for continued transparency from the police department. In a video shared by the San Francisco Police Department's Facebook page, viewers were presented with the unedited footage of the confrontation. At the same time, an abbreviated version was uploaded to YouTube to accommodate the virtual town hall's timeframe.
According to the body cam footage, which was publicly released and reported by NBC Bay Area, officers responded to a report of a man asleep in a stolen vehicle at the Powell Street BART station. A visible revolver on the passenger seat escalated the situation as Alderman, despite police warnings, exited the car with the gun in hand. Tracking him as he moved towards Market Street, the police called for his surrender. A subsequent, fateful gesture sparked officers to react with force, a scene detailed by acting commander Mark Im, who said, “Mr. Alderman proceeded down the Powell Street Station escalator, and entered the concourse. A major transportation hub with numerous people walking about.”
Non-lethal attempts to arrest Alderman proved ineffective, leading to the incident at the stairwell and escalator of the station. A simultaneous deployment of a bean bag and service weapon fire followed as he allegedly turned his gun towards the officers, resulting in a flurry of bullets, as revealed by the enhanced video via NBC Bay Area. Alderman sustained injuries that were not life-threatening and was transported to the hospital, with a handgun recovered at the scene.
As recounted by Hoodline, the shooting has prompted a multi-agency probe, including the SFPD, the District Attorney's Office, and the Department of Police Accountability, among others. While the initial facts are laid out, authorities warn that they are preliminary and subject to change with ongoing investigations. In alignment with its pledge for transparency, the SFPD will conduct a town hall meeting within ten days of the incident to engage with the community, address concerns, and provide updates on the case.
The SFPD is calling for contributions from the public regarding the shooting. People with information are encouraged to step forward and contact the SFPD at 1-415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411, prefacing the message with SFPD. Individuals providing tips have the option to remain anonymous.
