According to authorities, an individual drove a vehicle into the Chinese consulate in San Francisco on Monday and was shot and killed by the police when confronted in the lobby.
Sgt. Kathryn Winters, spokesperson for the San Francisco Police Department, informed that the incident occurred at approximately 3:09 p.m. PT when the driver crashed into the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China, where visas are managed.
Upon receiving reports of the incident, the police quickly arrived at the scene and confronted the driver in the lobby. There, they resorted to using their firearms, resulting in the death of the driver. Subsequently, the driver was rushed to a nearby hospital where they were pronounced dead.
It is not clear how many individuals were present inside the consulate at the time of the incident. As confirmed by Winters, no other individuals seemed to have suffered injuries.
During a press briefing on Monday evening, Winters chose not to disclose the reasons behind the police firing or whether the person who lost their life was armed. Moreover, Winters did not provide any information regarding the intention behind the crash, nor did he share any other details about the person involved or the incident itself.
A representative from the Consulate General of China in San Francisco issued a statement expressing that the crash caused significant damage to the building, endangering the lives of the people present. The statement strongly condemned the incident and urged for a prompt investigation to be conducted, emphasizing the need for serious legal repercussions.
In a video captured by witness Sergii Molchanov, we can see people hurrying past a blue car that had crashed into a consulate wall, causing debris to scatter everywhere.
Molchanov, who was inside the consulate waiting for his turn to submit visa documents, described the shocking incident. He explained how the car came crashing through the main door at full speed, only a mere 2 meters away from where he was seated.
According to Molchanov, the driver emerged from the vehicle yelling, “Where is CCP?” which seemed to be a clear reference to the Chinese Communist Party. The driver then engaged in a physical altercation with the security guards.
With fear gripping everyone, including himself, Molchanov recounted how visitors began running for safety, until the police arrived on the scene. He also mentioned hearing two gunshots during the chaos.
The San Francisco police reported collaborating with the US State Department and Chinese consulate situated in Japantown. This neighborhood is located a few blocks northeast of The Painted Ladies, which are famous colorful Victorian homes that attract many visitors in the city. Officials are currently figuring out which agency will take charge of investigating the incident.
