In a shocking incident on Monday, an individual drove a vehicle into the lobby of the Chinese consulate in San Francisco and was subsequently shot and killed by the police upon confrontation. The incident, which has drawn significant attention and concern, occurred around 3:09 p.m. PT, as confirmed by Sgt. Kathryn Winters, a spokesperson for the San Francisco Police Department.
The driver, whose identity remains undisclosed, crashed into the lobby area of the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China, an establishment primarily responsible for handling visa applications. Responding swiftly to the situation, police officers arrived at the scene within minutes of the crash. Upon confronting the driver in the consulate's lobby, the individual was shot. The driver was later transported to a local hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
The circumstances leading to the police opening fire remain unclear, and Sgt. Winters did not provide details on whether the driver was armed or if the crash was intentional. Furthermore, no information about the driver or the specifics of the incident was disclosed during the initial press briefing.
US police shot dead a driver whose car crashed into the Chinese consulate in San Francisco on Monday#USpolice #carcrash #Chineseconsulate #SanFrancisco #thesentinel pic.twitter.com/URZEatXFne — The Sentinel (@Sentinel_Assam) October 10, 2023
Eyewitness accounts painted a chaotic scene. Videos recorded by witness Sergii Molchanov displayed a blue car smashed against a wall inside the consulate, surrounded by debris. Molchanov, who was present inside the consulate to submit visa documents, recounted the harrowing moment: "I was inside waiting for my turn to submit the documents for my visa and suddenly a car in full speed crashed via the main door and hit the wall, just 2 meters from where I was sitting." Molchanov further mentioned that the driver exited the car shouting, "Where is CCP?" - likely referring to the Chinese Communist Party. Following this, the driver reportedly engaged in a physical altercation with the consulate's security personnel. Molchanov, along with other terrified visitors, fled the scene, and he recalled hearing two gunshots shortly after.
The Consulate General of China in San Francisco released an official statement addressing the incident. The crash resulted in "serious damage" to the consulate building and posed a "serious threat" to individuals present, potentially leading to injuries or fatalities. The consulate expressed strong condemnation of the incident and urged for a thorough investigation, emphasizing that the matter should be "carried out expeditiously and dealt with seriously in accordance with the law."
The incident's location, in the city's Japantown area, is a few blocks northeast of The Painted Ladies, a renowned attraction featuring a row of vibrant Victorian homes. Given the unique nature of the incident, occurring within the premises of the Chinese consulate, authorities are deliberating on which agency will spearhead the investigation. "This is a unique investigation because it did happen inside the lobby of the Chinese consulate so there's a number of agencies and jurisdictions that are involved, so this is far different than our normal officer-involved shooting," Winters commented.
San Francisco police have confirmed collaboration with officials from the US State Department and the Chinese consulate to address the situation and its ramifications.
