Officials from San Francisco's
Patrol Special Police, a quasi-public community policing agency, have identified the officer who shot a suspect in the
gun battle outside the Suede nightclub over the weekend that left one dead and four wounded.
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Patrol Special Officer Robert Burns -- who was on duty outside the club under contract with Suede -- wounded the suspect, whose name has not been released, during the incident early Sunday morning, according to a statement from Jane Warner, president of the Patrol Special Police Officers Association. The suspect was being treated at General Hospital.
According to the statement, "Officer Burns evaluated the situation. He noted that the suspect continued to threaten to fire or fired his gun, prompting Burns to draw his side arm and return fire, injuring and stopping the suspect." The statement also asserted that "Burns' quick action avoided additional harm to the public."
The gunfire outside Suede, a nightclub with a history of problems that has long been on the radar of police, left 19-year-old Richmond resident Lawon Hall dead. The San Francisco Chronicle reported this morning that city officials have imposed an emergency suspension of the club's license to operate while they assess what happened.
Photo | Kaloozer
