On Tuesday, November 11, 2014, at 12:33pm, police responded to a call of a suspicious person in the area of Willow Place. Upon arrival, officers found a male suspect involved in a burglary in progress. A foot pursuit ensued of the suspect, and a Taser device was deployed to stop the suspect. The male suspect brandished a gun at the officers. Officers shot the suspect, and he was pronounced dead at the scene by medics. The suspect’s weapon was recovered at the scene along with a stolen wallet. One Menlo Park officer was transported to the hospital for a non-life threatening injury to his knee related to the foot pursuit.
The suspect has been identified by the San Mateo Coroner’s Office as Jerry Lee Matheny, 10/02/1962 of Nuevo, CA. Matheny was a suspect wanted in several burglaries that occurred in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. Matheny was recognized by an office worker on Willow Place. The worker reported the suspicious person to police and relayed that he fit the description of a possible burglary suspect that employees were to be aware in a notification that was circulated in their office by their property management company. The burglary suspect was allegedly entering businesses and stealing personal property from employees.
This is an active investigation, and the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office is handling the officer involved shooting investigation.
The Menlo Park Police Department staff extends its appreciation to the business employees and the residents in the area for their cooperation in this investigation and their understanding for the inconvenience they encountered during the processing of this incident.
Any witnesses to the incident are asked to contact Detective Jeff Cooley at [email protected] or (650) 330-6344.
