Man Who Died After Shooting SFPD Officer In Head Identified
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- A man who died in the hospital Sunday afternoon after being shot by San Francisco police officers on Friday has been identified as 26-year-old Nicholas McWherter, according to the medical examiner's office.
McWherter, a Pacifica resident, died at around 3 p.m. at San Francisco General Hospital on Sunday, a hospital spokesman said.
Officers shot McWherter during a pursuit in the city's Lake Shore neighborhood after McWherter allegedly shot an officer in the head.
The injured officer was also taken to San Francisco General Hospital, where he was listed in critical but stable condition as of Saturday, according to police.
Interim police Chief Toney Chaplin said Saturday that the officer was partially paralyzed on one side of his body.
According to Chaplin, the officer underwent surgery to remove bullet fragments from his brain.
"One centimeter down and this may have been a fatality for the officer," Chaplin said.
The injured officer has been with the department for two years and is assigned to Taraval Station, Chaplin said.
The incident began Friday at around 8:15 p.m., when officers responded to the Lakeshore Shopping Center at 1501 Sloat Blvd. on a report of a man causing a disturbance and making threats, according to police.
When officers encountered the man, later identified as McWherter, in the first block of Everglade Drive he allegedly fired several shots toward the officers, striking one of them in the head. The suspect then ran toward Sigmund Stern Grove, police said.
The injured officer's partner provided first aid and requested backup, and officers established a perimeter around Stern Grove Park, according to police.
McWherter then came out of the bushes at 28th Avenue and Vicente Street and tried to run away. Officers however chased and shot him, causing him to fall to the ground.
McWherter then held his gun to his chest and refused to surrender. Tactical officers used flash-bang devices to distract him and were able to arrest him, police said.
McWherter was taken to San Francisco General Hospital for treatment, where he died two days later.
Police will hold a town hall meeting this week to give residents information about the shooting. The meeting has been tentatively scheduled for Thursday, although a time and location has not yet been confirmed, according to police.
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