Federal courthouse shooting: San Francisco court security shot a knife-wielding trespasser four times, feds say

"The officer fired seven times at 35-year-old Zachary Norman Guyton, hitting him four times, after Guyton allegedly brandished a knife and "advanced" toward the officer, who was attempting to boot him from an area outside the James R. Browning Courthouse in downtown San Francisco. The security officer, contracted through Federal Protective Services, told authorities he feared for his life, according to the criminal complaint against Guyton."

"Guyton has been charged with assault on a federal employee. Video of the incident shows him brandishing and walking toward the officer, who backed away while holding his gun, and yelled commands at Guyton. When the officer began to holster his weapon one final time, Guyton began moving quickly towards him, prompting the officer to raise and fire the pistol, prosecutors said."

"The incident occurred in the early morning on Jan. 26, before court hours. FPS officers had been told to clear trespassers from the area and Guyton appeared to be loitering around the steps of the appeals courthouse, the complaint says. Guyton was hospitalized but later discharged, according to court records. The shooting was not publicly revealed until Feb. 17, when prosecutors filed charges and created a public court file. Neither the FPS nor the justice department ever issued a news release announcing the shooting."

A federal court security officer fired seven times, striking 35-year-old Zachary Norman Guyton four times after Guyton allegedly brandished a knife and advanced toward the officer outside the James R. Browning Courthouse. Video shows Guyton walking toward the officer as the guard backed away and issued commands, then moving quickly as the officer began to holster his weapon, prompting the shots. The officer, contracted through Federal Protective Services, told authorities he feared for his life. The incident occurred early morning Jan. 26 while FPS officers were clearing trespassers; Guyton was hospitalized and later discharged. Charges of assault on a federal employee were filed Feb. 17.

Read at The Mercury News