Officer involved shooting on Valencia Street

SECOND UPDATE: 8:33 p.m., Jan. 5. Police have released a suicide note they said was found on the dead man’s phone. Beginning with “Dear officers,” it reads:

You did nothing wrong. You ended the life of a man who was too much of a coward to do it himself. I provoked you. I threatened your life as well as the lives of those around me. You were completely within your legal rights to do what you did. You followed protocols. You did everything right. I just want to find peace within myself. I am so sad and I am so lonely. There is no place for me here. Please, don’t blame yourself. I used you. I took advantage of you. I am so lost and I am so hopeless. God made a mistake with me. I shouldn’t be here. Please, take solace in knowing that the situation was out of your control. You had no other choice.

UPDATE: 11:01 p.m. The man shot by police died of his injuries at 7:53 p.m.

According to police, officers spotted the suspect loitering in the Mission Station parking lot and told him to leave. When he failed to comply, they approached him again and he placed his hands in his pockets. After backing out of the parking lot, he raised his sweater, showing officers what appeared to be the butt of a handgun. Saying they feared for their safety, officers opened fire as the man began removing the gun, which turned out to be an air (bb gun or pellet pistol). The suspect was struck three times.

The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation.

ORIGINAL POST: Photos taken near the scene of an officer-involved shooting near Mission police station at 17th and Valencia streets this evening. I was in the gym across the street at the time and saw an officer running by with police tape. Walked outside and they screamed at me to get back indoors. Later, a police came by to see if anyone at the gym was hurt. No one was, just really really shocked.