On the evening of May 31st, a shootout occurred in San Francisco as police pursued a vehicle suspected of being involved in a robbery in the East Bay area. A female police officer was shot multiple times but is expected to survive. Two suspects have been apprehended, with one sustaining injuries during the shootout and currently in critical but stable condition.
The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) revealed on June 1st that the suspect who fired at the female officer is Norris Reed III, a 36-year-old man from Oakland. Norris is currently in custody at the San Francisco County Jail facing multiple serious charges, including four counts of attempted murder and four counts of assaulting law enforcement officers with a semi-automatic firearm.
Police Chief Derrick Lew held a press conference on June 1st at the SFPD headquarters, accompanied by San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, condemning the violent attack on the police and emphasizing the thorough investigation of the case according to the law.
According to the police, at around 10:29 pm on May 31st, they received an alert through the License Plate Recognition system about a vehicle suspected of being involved in a robbery in the East Bay entering San Francisco via the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge. The police later located the vehicle near 5th Street close to Folsom Street.
The vehicle had two suspects including the driver. Police attempted to intercept the suspects’ vehicle at the intersection of Mission Street and 1st Street, but the driver fled, leading to a pursuit. The vehicle evaded through city streets before crashing and breaking down near Bayshore Boulevard and Jerrold Avenue.
Chief Lew stated that when police tried to approach the vehicle, the suspect driving opened fire at them, injuring a female officer. Several officers returned fire, hitting one of the suspects in the vehicle, while the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.
At the scene, police promptly transported the injured officer and suspect to the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital for treatment.
Chief Lew mentioned that while medical treatment was underway at the scene, other officers from multiple districts were engaged in a manhunt for the fleeing suspect. Eventually, the suspect was apprehended near a homeless shelter close to Jerrold Avenue, and two firearms were recovered from him.
“As police officers, we are well aware of the risks involved in this profession. Yesterday, myself and the command team, along with many officers involved in this case, had discussions. We witnessed that both seasoned and new officers were greatly shaken,” said Chief Lew.
Regarding the injured officer, Chief Lew did not disclose specific details but described her as “a highly respected officer known for her dedication and meticulous professional ethics.”
“It is fortunate that she is expected to survive, but she still faces a long road to recovery,” added Chief Lew.
Mayor Lurie stated during the press conference, “When someone commits a crime in San Francisco, or attempts to commit a crime here, we will use all means to maintain the city’s safety. We will not tolerate any form of violence. To anyone attempting to commit a crime in San Francisco, we explicitly warn: we will find you and arrest you.”
This incident marks the first shooting of police officers that Mayor Lurie has encountered since taking office. He mentioned that he visited the injured officer at the hospital on the night of the incident to offer support, and extended his sympathies to her family, the officers handling the case, as well as the nurses and doctors involved in treatment.
“The phone call they received is every family’s worst nightmare, and I want to express my gratitude for their sacrifices. We sincerely hope for her swift recovery, thank the medical staff at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital for their attentive care, and remain hopeful and optimistic,” Mayor Lurie said.
At the press conference, the police highlighted the swift identification and deployment leading to the apprehension of the suspects, attributing this success in part to the use of license plate recognition technology, enabling real-time alerts when suspect vehicles enter the city.
Chief Lew underscored that this case is another successful example of technology-assisted law enforcement in San Francisco.
The investigation into the case is being jointly conducted by multiple agencies, including the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, the Department of Police Accountability (DPA), the Investigation Services Division, and the Internal Affairs Division of the SFPD.
The police indicated that further details will be disclosed to the public once the investigation is completed. Following the usual practice of the SFPD, a community briefing will be held within 10 days to provide updates on the investigation.
For any individuals with information, they are urged to contact the San Francisco Police Department at 415-575-4444 or send a text message to TIP411 to provide tips. Anonymity is an option. The case number assigned by the San Francisco Police Department is 260309654.