Man shot dead by police after crashing car into Chinese consulate in San Francisco
A man in San Francisco was subsequently shot and killed by police after he crashed his car into the Chinese consulate on Monday.
What happened: According to a spokesperson for the San Francisco Police Department, the unidentified man was driving a blue Honda car at around 3:09 p.m. PT before crashing the vehicle into the lobby area of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China near Japantown.
The driver, whose head was bleeding, then stepped out of the vehicle shouting “Where’s the CCP (Chinese Communist Party)?,” a witness told the San Francisco Standard. As people started fleeing the building, at least 11 police cars and emergency vehicles reportedly responded to the scene.
Police shot suspect: According to San Francisco Police spokesperson Sgt. Kathryn Winters, police made contact with the man inside the consulate before shooting him. Events leading up to the shooting have not been released. However, the man was reportedly taken to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
There are no reports of other injuries from the incident.
Chinese consulate’s statement: The incident prompted condemnation from the consulate, which considered it a serious threat to their staff and others present. China’s foreign ministry accused the unidentified individual of attempting to harm people inside the consulate. The consulate temporarily closed parts of its office and expressed diplomatic discontent to the U.S., urging a proper resolution.
“Our Embassy severely condemns this violent attack and reserves the right to pursue responsibilities related to the incident. Our embassy has made solemn representations to the United States, demanding that the truth be quickly ascertained and dealt with severely in accordance with the law,” a spokesperson for the consulate stated.
Ongoing investigation: Police said they are working with the U.S. Department of State and the Chinese consulate on the “very complex investigation.” The suspect’s identity and motivations for the attack have not been revealed.
The incident occurred ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation event in San Francisco, where Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to attend.
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