10-10-2023 (SAN FRANSCISCO) In an unprecedented incident, San Francisco police shot and killed a suspect who had driven a car into the visa office of the Chinese consulate on Monday afternoon. The tragic event occurred just after 3 p.m. when the driver deliberately accelerated into the consulate’s visa office on Geary Street.
Upon arriving at the scene, law enforcement officers “made contact” with the driver and subsequently resorted to the use of lethal force, as reported by police Sgt. Kathryn Winters. First aid was administered, and paramedics rushed the driver to the hospital. Tragically, the individual was later pronounced dead.
The unique and concerning nature of the incident is underscored by the fact that it transpired within the confines of the Chinese consulate. Sgt. Winters commented on the exceptional circumstances, noting, “This is unique because it did happen in the lobby of the Chinese consulate.”
In response to the incident, police cordoned off the area at Laguna Street and Geary Boulevard, which remained surrounded by emergency vehicles for several hours following the shooting. A bloodstain near the entrance leading to the visa office served as a grim reminder of the tragic event.
Authorities refrained from releasing information about the suspect. It remains unclear how many people were present inside the building at the time of the crash. Nevertheless, it has been confirmed that no injuries were sustained. Sgt. Winters emphasized that due to the international implications of the incident, there was little information that could be disclosed.
As the police conducted their investigation at the scene, the car remained inside the consulate building. The entrance to the visa office was concealed behind a thin white plastic sheet, preventing any view inside. Geary Street, from Laguna to Cleary, remained closed to traffic for an extended period.
Local residents who often pass by the office on Monday afternoons noted that they frequently witness long lines of people waiting to access the visa office. Protests are also known to take place periodically in the vicinity.
Residents of the St. Francis Square Cooperative, located directly across the street from the consulate, revealed that the area is often a site for protests. These residents, who chose not to disclose their names, stated that Coop residents collectively pay for “terrorist insurance” as a result of the protests, which include weekly Falun Gong demonstrations and monthly street protests on Laguna Street.
Felicia Pacifica, a resident near the consulate, went for a bike ride on Monday afternoon and noticed the police tape. She initially thought nothing of it since the Chinese consulate area is usually quiet. “Other than protests, it is peaceful, and even the protesters are peaceful,” Pacifica remarked.
The Chinese consulate general issued a statement denouncing Monday’s incident. The statement described the incident as follows: “On the afternoon of October 9, 2023, local time, an unidentified person drove a vehicle and violently crashed into the document hall of our consulate, posing a serious threat to the safety of staff and people on-site, and damaging the facilities of our consulate.” The consulate expressed its severe condemnation of the violent attack and demanded more details about the incident, urging that it be dealt with seriously in accordance with the law.
A man crashed his car into #ChineseConsulate in #SanFrancisco. pic.twitter.com/tuQggCXZso
— Sergii 龍天 (@sergii_san) October 10, 2023
