After a fatal officer
involved shooting that has spawned online accusations of police brutality, SFPD
has announced a press conference and community meeting to discuss the incident.
According to SFPD, an
officer fatally shot a man after he allegedly slashed a coworker with a box
cutter at TCHO New American Chocolate factory at Pier 17.
Police Chief Greg
Suhr said from the available evidence, the officer's actions were within
policy.
Suhr said that at
about 10:15 a.m., the 30-year-old Cambodian man, a temporary employee at TCHO,
slashed his coworker in an apparently unprovoked attack and "cut him
pretty bad."
The victim suffered
defensive wounds as he raised his arm to block the attack, Suhr said.
The attacker, identified by SF Weekly as 32-year-old
Pralith Pralouarng of Oakland, then fled south on the Embarcadero, and the
victim chased him, leaving a trail of blood as he ran, Suhr said.
Police responded and
tried to stop Pralouarng but he would not comply with their demands, Suhr said.
At Washington and
Davis streets, Pralouarng allegedly lunged at a female officer with the box
cutter and she fired two shots at him, Suhr said.
Pralouarng went down
and landed on his stomach, and officers handcuffed him--but when they turned
him over and saw that he had been shot in the torso, they removed the cuffs,
according to Suhr.
Pralouarng was
treated at the scene then transported to San Francisco General Hospital, where
he succumbed to his injuries.
The slashing victim's
wounds are not considered life-threatening, Suhr said.
The officer who fired
the shots has been placed on paid administrative leave as is protocol with
officer-involved shootings.
A woman answering the
phone at the chocolate company declined to comment on the incident.
Shortly after the
incident, SFist first reported on a set of videos quoting two
people on the scene who alleged that the police officer shot
Pralouarng while he was in handcuffs.
"I
think you might need to do better journalism MULTIPLE witness's report that the
man was shot WHILE he was handcuffed not before. Yeah lets ask the police the
same people that were laughing at the camera man asking if they shot a man in
while he was handcuffed. Try asking witness's in the area too next time or do a
little more research on the internet first, here I'll do you a favor here is
one of many copies of the video on the internet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl-lrAYlO0k&feature=g-all-u"
It's worth noting, however, that neither of the men in the video who make these allegations identify themselves as eyewitnesses to the actual shooting.
The SFPD community
meeting is scheduled for Friday, July 20 at 10:30 AM in the Bay Side One Room
of Pier #1, located on The Embarcadero near Washington Street in San Francisco
According to SFPD:
"Parking will be available on Washington Street, between The Embarcadero
and Drumm Street. Parking meters will be posted with "No Stopping"
signs and attendees may park in those spaces during the Town Hall
Meeting."