In San Mateo, an early Saturday morning encounter with police turned tense and dangerous when a man armed with a gun pointed it at officers, leading to a police shooting. The suspect is now in the hospital but in stable condition.
It all started just before 3 a.m., when police received reports of possible gunshots near North San Mateo Drive. Officers from the San Mateo Police Department rushed to the scene and spotted a man near Jefferson Court and State Street. According to police, the man pointed a gun at them before taking off north on Jefferson Court.
The officers quickly got out of harm’s way, called for backup, and began chasing him. The situation took a brief twist when the suspect managed to disappear. However, officers from the Burlingame Police Department found him a short while later, about three miles away, near Bayswater Avenue and Myrtle Road.
When they approached, the man was in the middle of the street, holding a gun and yelling. Police say they tried to calm him down, urging him to drop the weapon. Unfortunately, he didn’t listen.
To defuse the situation, an officer fired a rubber projectile at the man, hoping to get him to let go of the gun. But it didn’t work. That’s when things escalated, and two officers—one from San Mateo Police and the other from Burlingame Police—fired their guns around 4 a.m. The suspect was hit and fell to the ground.
When officers got closer, they found the suspect had been carrying a loaded .45-caliber Glock pistol. The officers immediately gave him first aid before he was rushed to the hospital. As of Saturday afternoon, he’s stable.
Both officers involved in the shooting are now on administrative leave while an investigation is underway, which is standard procedure in cases like this.
This tense morning serves as a reminder of how quickly things can escalate and how vital it is for law enforcement to balance safety and swift action in these unpredictable situations.
