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Authorities say it was 24-year-old Alice Brown who police shot and killed last night during an erratic car chase through the city's Nob Hill neighborhood.
At about 7 p.m., police were called out to Van Ness Avenue and Pine Street to investigate as possible stolen vehicle that was stopped at a gas station. When police arrived, they attempted to stop Brown who was the sole occupant inside the suspect vehicle — a blue four-door sedan. When they attempted to approach the vehicle and identify themselves as San Francisco cops, Brown reportedly put the car into gear and sped toward the officers, says Officer Grace Gatpandan.
Brown made a three-point-turn to exit the gas station, hitting the building before turning on to Pine Street. She sped off as officers chased after the car, on foot.
"Before reaching Franklin Street, the suspect made another three-point-turn and started driving eastbound on Pine Street, the wrong way on a one-way street," Gatpandan says. "The suspect drove the vehicle onto the south sidewalk towards the officers a second time, striking a building, parked vehicles and endangering the lives of pedestrians in the area."
She then drove back onto the roadway, headed in the wrong direction; she hit a few more cars on her way. A motorcyclist seeing the oncoming car, got off his bike and ran for cover, leaving his bike in the street. Brown allegedly drove back onto the sidewalk a second time, police say.
Police then made the decision to shoot.
"The officers, fearing for their safety and for the safety of other citizens present, discharged their department issued firearms," Gatpandan says. "Preliminary investigation shows at least two rounds were fired at the suspect."
The car came to a stop about 50 feet west of Van Ness Avenue. Brown died at the scene.
This is an active and on-going investigation, which is being investigated by the SFPD Homicide Detail, the SFPD Internal Affairs Division, the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office and the Office of Citizens Complaints. Anyone with information on this case is urged to contact the SFPD Homicide Unit at (415) 553-1145, the Anonymous tip line at 415-575-4444 or text-a-tip to TIP411 with SFPD at the beginning of the message.
Police Chief Greg Suhr will host a town hall meeting to discuss the latest officer-involved shooting. Details to come.
