Video Shows Man With Knife Fatally Shot by Five San Francisco Cops
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A man carrying a knife was fatally shot by five San Francisco police officers in Bayview District on Wednesday, in a scene that was partially recorded on a cell phone camera.
RELATED: Video Shows California Police Brutally Beating a Suspected Car Thief
In the video, the man can be seen surrounded by multiple officers with their guns drawn. A bystander screams "just drop it, please," as the man attempts to walk away. One officer moves in front of the suspect, apparently trying to block him, and then a barrage of gunfire can be heard.
Police have not identified the man, but they say he was in his 20s and matched the description of a suspect in a stabbing that reportedly took place about an hour before the shooting.
Around 4:30 PM, police located the stabbing suspect, who was carrying what appeared to be a kitchen knife, San Francisco police Chief Greg Suhr told reporters.
After ordering the man to drop the weapon, police "deployed standard bean bag gun several times striking the suspect," Suhr said. Bean bag guns, or Extended Range Impact Weapons, are a "less than lethal force option," the department said in a statement sent to ATTN:.
When the bean bag guns had no effect on him, officers used pepper spray and other non-lethal weapons in an effort to disarm the man. He fell to the ground, but did not drop the knife.
"One of the officers moved to a position on the sidewalk in an effort to prevent the suspect from fleeing," police said in the statement. "Still armed with a knife, the suspect moved towards that officer."
"At this point, fearing serious injury or death, officers fired their department issued handguns at the suspect. The suspect was struck by the gunfire and fell to the ground."
Officers unsuccessfully attempted to revive the man and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
This story comes one month after Alameda police were caught on camera beating a suspected car thief in San Francisco's Mission District. It also comes at a time of growing concern over police brutality, with many criminal justice reform advocates calling for police departments to revise their use of force policies.
