Full Notification

MEDIA AND COMMUNITY UPDATE - Saturday, April 29 - 2pm

San Mateo Police Department

Investigators from all three agencies worked through the night to thoroughly process the scene, obtain multiple statements, and sort through much additional evidence and investigative information. We are able to provide the following additional information, which is all that is available at this time:

RECAP

Just after 5:30pm, CHP Officers encountered an armed adult male suspect on northbound US101 at SR92. Three officers fired at the suspect, fatally wounding him. None of the officers were injured. San Mateo Police Department assisted by investigating the suspect's criminal actions leading up to the shooting, and the San Mateo County DA's Office responded to investigate the legality of the officers actions. CHP was on scene and handled the administrative investigation of their officers' response. All three investigations are being conducted independently, but are occurring simultaneously. 

The immense and complex ensuing crime scene and investigation left no option but to close down this portion of US101, for the safety of investigators and motorists. The hours-long crime scene investigation involved numerous pieces of evidence scattered over a wide swath of US101. The scene was meticulously documented by expert personnel in order to provide a clear three-dimensional picture to all three investigating agencies. This created significant traffic impacts until the reopening of US101 just before 1am Saturday morning.

UPDATE 

Based on the investigation to date, including original reports to CHP and independent witness information, it is clear that this incident was originally reported as a traffic collision, and updated to include reports of one of the involved parties being armed. 

CHP Officers arrived to find the suspect brandishing a firearm (handgun). Independent witnesses confirm CHP Officers made significant efforts to de-escalate the suspects behavior, order him to drop the firearm, and attempt to negotiate with the suspect. These significant efforts were unsuccessful, and CHP Officers, faced with immediate safety concerns for themselves, witnesses at the scene, and heavy vehicular traffic at rush hour, fired at the suspect, fatally wounding him. 

It should be noted that CHP Officers at the scene and responding SMPD Officers immediately made efforts to render first aid to the suspect following the shooting, as fire and medics raced to the scene.

Investigation determined that CHP interrupted the suspect as he was in the process of an armed carjacking of the vehicle and driver involved in the original reported collision. The victim (second vehicle driver) is a 55 year-old woman from the east bay. She was uninjured beyond a complaint of pain from the vehicle collision. 

The identity of the suspect in this case is still unavailable, as the Coroner's Office continues to complete their investigation and notification process. 

San Mateo Police Detectives continue to gather information on the criminal actions leading up to the shooting. Anyone who has knowledge of the events preceding the shooting incident is encouraged to contact SMPD Investigations at 650-522-7650.

MEDIA FOLLOW-UP

The above update is all the information that is available at this time. There will be no additional information immediately available. Longer-term follow-up regarding the DA's Office findings or questions about CHP personnel may be directed to those agencies. 

UPDATE PREPARED BY:
Captain Dave Norris, SMPD [email protected] 
 

Original Media Release:

MEDIA RELEASE - COMMUNITY ALERT
SAN MATEO POLICE DEPARTMENT

CHP - INVOLVED IN OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING ON 101 IN SAN MATEO

At just after 5:30 pm on Friday April 28, on northbound US101 just south of SR92, CHP Officers (California Highway Patrol) were involved in a shooting incident with a suspect armed with a handgun. The suspect was fatally wounded, and the three CHP Officers involved in the shooting incident are all ok.

The three officers involved responded to the scene in individual vehicles, and made contact with an adult male, who was armed. All three of the officers fired their weapons, and the suspect was pronounced deceased at the scene. Due to the location of the incident being in the City of San Mateo, San Mateo PD is also at the scene. Other details of this incident are part of an ongoing investigation and nothing further is available at this time.

TRAFFIC

Due to the ongoing incident, US101 continues to be closed northbound from Belmont through San Mateo for safety as investigators continue to work at the scene. The closure is expected to continue for at least another two hours. Please plan your travel accordingly.

PROTOCOL

Following protocol in officer involved shooting incidents, three agencies are involved independently in this investigation. The San Mateo County DIstrict Attorney's Office (Inspectors) investigate the legality of the officers' actions. The San Mateo Police Department, having geographic jurisdiction, investigate the criminal actions of the suspect. The California Highway Patrol also conducts an administrative investigation of the officers' actions as relates to their policies. All three law enforcement agencies are on scene and the investigation continues. The San Mateo County Coroner's Office and County Crime Scene Technicians are also on scene.

MEDIA POINT OF CONTACT

San Mateo Police Department has the lead for media inquiries at this time. The media point of contact for this incident is Captain Dave Norris - most easily reached at [email protected]