A man was shot and killed by police officers in South San Francisco on May 14, after pointing a fake gun at law enforcement, marking the city’s second officer-involved shooting in less than three weeks.
During the most recent incident, law enforcement responded to 38-year-old Andrew Mate trying to force his way into a public restroom on Oyster Point Boulevard. The Ohio resident fled on foot with a fake gun, according to a South San Francisco Police Department press release, eventually pointing it in law enforcement’s direction. Two officers from the South San Francisco Police Department and one from the San Bruno Police Department shot and killed Mate. Officers were not injured during the incident.
The San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office will not handle the case, as the California Department of Justice handles officer shootings that involve unarmed suspects.
“The state is working with the South San Francisco Police Department, but the DA’s out of it altogether,” District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said. “If the replica discharged a projectile like a BB gun, then we keep it. If it merely is a replica that does not discharge anything, then they take it.”
The incident marks the second officer-involved shooting in 2 ½ weeks. At the end of April, a neighbor dispute in the Rancho Buri Buri neighborhood led to a police officer-involved shooting, leaving a 60-year-old man dead. The suspect, Brian Montana, fired at law enforcement multiple times outside of his house soon after officers’ arrival. He was eventually shot and killed. The investigation is still ongoing.
The city had recently held a community meeting discussing the Arroyo Drive shooting, where they showed body cam footage and answered questions from residents. Mayor Eddie Flores said the event was critical to maintain transparency.
“My heart goes out to everyone affected,” he said. “Any loss of life in our community is deeply saddening, and we recognize the emotional impact it has on our residents … the community knows that we invite our residents to continue to engage with us, and their voices matter.”
Prior to April, the last officer-involved shooting in the city occurred in 2020, Officer Elena Dominguez, spokesperson for the South San Francisco Police Department, said. Countywide, Wagstaffe said the county sees roughly one officer-involved shooting per year.
“It’s been awhile, and then they have two in this time period,” Wagstaffe said. “But they are completely different scenarios.”
Despite the losses, Flores said he doesn’t feel the two incidents have affected residents’ overall sense of safety in the city.
“South San Francisco is a safe city. These [incidents] are coincidental, but we’re proud to really work together with our public safety team. We still have that small town community feel, and we look out for each other,” Flores said. “I haven’t heard anyone that says, ‘I’m afraid to walk down the street.’”
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