by Robert J Hansen
San Francisco, CA – The San Francisco Police Department held a 3-hour virtual town hall Friday in response to an officer-involved shooting last Thursday at Mariposa and Owens Streets.
Michael McKinnon, 57, and Raphael Mendoza, 49, both died from multiple gunshot wounds fired by San Francisco PD.
The two men were grappling with a knife while lying on the ground and several officers ordered them to put the knife down.
Non-lethal bullets were used at first to break the two men apart.
Body cam video shows one of the men getting an advantage and starting to drive the knife down into the other when police fired several rounds into both men.
The two men did not appear to ever make any threatening movements toward the police.
The video can be seen here.
“In the San Francisco Police Department’s aspirations to be a national model of 21st century policing, we work to earn the trust of those we serve,” William Scott, Chief of SFPD said. “By committing to transparency and the tenets of procedural justice.”
Chief Scott emphasized that the incident is subject to several independent and ongoing investigations, therefore some information was not yet able to be disclosed.
Commander Paul Yep said the incident began as 911 received a call about a man beating a tarped structure with two large sticks.
Officers were dispatched around 7:54 p.m., responding to an aggravated assault or an assault with a deadly weapon, according to Yep.
When officers arrived they found the two men, McKinnon and Mendoza on the ground, struggling over a knife according to Yep.
“Both subjects were lying on the ground in an active physical struggle involving a knife, ” Yep said.
McKinnon was on top of Mendoza with the knife pointed downward over Mendoza who was lying on his back.
Officers gave Mendoza several commands for McKinnon to drop the knife.
“I believe you were the victim,” one officer told McKinnon. “I want to help you but you have to put the knife down.”
“Y’all can play the video as many times as you want but you had over 15 cars. Everyone saw the lights. You thought that wasn’t going to escalate the situation?” a woman said during public comment. “The two men with knives were in more danger than the police. They never had a chance.”
Susan Buckman said she has watched these town halls for a couple years and this is the worst incident she has seen so far.
“I mean in previous ones you might say that things escalated so quickly that an officer didn’t have enough time to try to de-escalate,” Buckman said. “But in this one, you had time and you threw it away.”
In a statement from SF Deputy Public Defender Alexandra Pray, who represented one of the people killed, Mendoza, she said, “I was absolutely horrified to learn that SFPD officers shot and killed my client Mr. Mendoza.”
She added, “He was an unhoused father who lived a life of desperation. In all of my interactions with him, he was very sweet and gentle, even though his struggle to survive often entangled him in the criminal legal system for mostly petty and non-violent offenses.
“The fact that he died at the hands of police, who found him injured and being threatened by a man with a knife, is an inexcusable tragedy. My deepest condolences go out to his family and I want them to know that he was loved and valued despite his circumstances.”
The Public Defender’s office noted officers’ Body Worn Camera footage shown at the SFPD town hall showed at least a dozen officers gathered, yelling commands at close range, with weapons drawn on the two injured men who were largely frozen in combat under the same tarp on the ground.
“None of the officers attempted to identify language access needs until very late in the incident. Although the initial force used was from beanbag projectiles, officers quickly escalated to lethal force. It was later confirmed that both men died from the gunshot wounds,” the office said.
“The inability or unwillingness of police to truly de-escalate harmful situations remains a paramount concern for public safety in San Francisco,” Public Defender Mano Raju said. “The answer to violence is not more violence. Mr. Mendoza lived his life on the margins of society without having his basic needs met, but he still had rights. This is why we need to stop relying on police to prevent harm, but rather invest in non-police alternatives to help vulnerable people abate harm.”
This officer-involved shooting is being investigated by the California Department of Justice pursuant to AB 1706, according to Yep.
This is why we need to stop relying on police to prevent harm, but rather invest in non-police alternatives to help vulnerable people abate harm.”
Mr Hansen
How would you handle that situation if you were that non police alternative. Would you jump in and try and take the knife away [edited]?
The quote you referenced was from the public defender, not me, just so we’re clear on that.
His point was public investments need to be made to prevent this situation from even occurring.
As far as how I would have handled it as a responding officer, I would start by not having my gun pointed at them as I calmly asked him to put the knife down. I don’t think over a dozen cops also with guns drawn help calm the situation so maybe a few less. Made sure I had someone who could speak Spanish so that both men could be communicated with. From there it’s hard to say, if that didn’t work, I would think tasers would have incapacitated both men to the point they would stop grappling over the knife. I know that unless a movement were made towards an office I would not have opened fire.
In reference to the title of this article, I have problems referring to someone attempting to stab someone else (right in front of the police, no less) as a “victim”. (I watched the video, and the stabbing attempt appeared to have commenced – despite a lengthy period and methods employed to convince the assailant to drop the knife.)
The police have an obligation to respond (including with deadly force), when one person is attempting to illegally kill another person. That’s one of their primary “duties”.
I suspect that any one of us would “understand” what the police meant, regardless of where you are in the world (or even what “language” you speak). Of course, it’s likely that both of these individuals had mental health issues, but so did the guy who shot 19 students and 2 teachers. (Apparently, the police did not kill that guy “soon enough”, once it reached that point.)
As far as the death of the guy about to be stabbed, are you sure it was from police bullets?
Is this the same person who might (also) be obligated to defend a police officer, should he/she be charged with a crime? (Assuming that they don’t hire their own attorney?)
I won’t ask the reason that the public defender previously represented Mr. Mendoza, or the reason that she’s chiming in via the media, now.
Though given this statement, I’d certainly be reluctant to rely upon this public defender, if I was a police officer charged with a crime. Let’s just file that under “not recommended”. In fact, I’d probably also be concerned as long as Boudin is in office, as well.
Did he? Who killed him? (We know who was “attempting” to kill him, at least.)
Just saw this.
It the statement from the public defender’s office? If it is true, then that would be troubling (given that the reason for imminent deadly force was to save the one guy’s life).
In any case, why would the public defender’s office (assuming that’s the source) be making a statement like this?
Who, exactly are they supposedly “defending” at this point? Is anyone being charged with a crime (other than conceivably/possibly, the police themselves)?
Yeah, I don’t recommend that the police rely upon the public defender’s office for their own legal defense – should it come to that.
Truth be told, I wouldn’t recommend that anyone go into police work these days. Especially in places where they actually need it (such as San Francisco). Seems like a pretty good chance that your own public defender (and DA) are more focused on the police, rather than those whose actions created the situation in the first place. (Quite often, repeatedly – for that matter.)
Thanks for your service, but here’s your prison cell.