Guns. Sigh.

I watched a man get shot today and then helped apprehend his shooter.

(Not exactly what I figured the next post on my blog would say. I have been chewing over some thoughts about WiFi and the junk science that opponents and reporters alike love to sensationalize. I even spent this morning cranking out a lighthearted post about kitesurfing. I thought it would be great to get something up on the blog before I headed off on two weeks of travel in Europe and the Caribbean.)

My friend Nancy was coming by my house to pick something up before I left. I was waiting outside on the curb, got bored and started to type out a to do list on my Blackberry. Suddenly I heard two loud, distinct pops. I can’t say they sounded unfamiliar, but the potential to hear gunshots on a Monday was so distinctly out of the realm of possibility, my brain searched for other explanations. A car backfiring? Fireworks?

Any attempt to reasonably explain away what I had just heard was undermined by the report from my eyes. There I was looking at a thirty-year-old Asian guy clutching desperately at his loins as his legs gave out and he crumbled to the pavement. If there was any doubt remaining about what just took place, a silver Chrysler 300 squealed its tires and streaked right toward me to flee the scene. Holy shit. This car just shot someone.

Instinct kicked in immediately. Had I paused to consciously process anything, my next steps would have gone differently. The shooter, a black male behind the wheel, was pinned at the intersection of 3rd and Townsend. Stuck in the right hand lane, the traffic heading up 3rd Street left him no immediate options to escape. A large semi truck was in the lane to his left further boxing him in and simultaneously providing me cover.

Thus, I made my move and sprinted up toward the suspect’s car. I rolled my body along the edge of the trailer until I was able to catch the full license plate number just before he found a window to spin out across the intersection toward the Embarcadero. It wasn’t until much later that I started to digest that, at one point, I was a car length from an attempted murderer. Thank goodness the insanity of that adjacency didn’t occur to me in the moment.  Instead, I had one momentary obsession – write down that plate number before I forgot it.

By now there was shouting coming at me from all sides. “Did you get it?” “Hey, get down! Get down!” “Someone get that license plate number!” “Watch out!” While I just tried to steady my hands long enough to etch the digits onto my screen. The remaining items on my packing/to-do list thus soon read:

Socks (blue and black for Oxford)
Baseball cap
Jacket
Harpers and Atlantic mags
Take out the trash
Pull kite, harness, and lines from truck
5RLG375

Plate number in hand I dialed 911 – busy signal of course - as I ran back toward 4th to aid the man down. He was face down on the pavement. I don’t mean to say he was just on his stomach. I mean literally, his nose was buried in the asphalt, one arm splayed out above his head, like a dyke guiding the fluorescent red blood leaving him on its dash for the gutter.

We were helpless, the few of us standing there not knowing what to do. They didn’t cover drive-bys and massive trauma in the CPR course I took. A kind forty-five year old man placed his hand on the victim’s back repeating with inspired but dubitable confidence that everything would be all right. In that moment, an SF police officer rushed from across the street. He had happened upon the incident in the normal course and wasted no time in jumping into the fray. The 911 dispatchers had yet to answer my call, nevertheless, I was able to grab the cop and have him radio out the plate number that I read from the screen in my trembling hands. As his call went out on the air we could immediately hear the ambient echo of sirens firing up across the city. 

The cop rolled the downed man over onto his back revealing his injuries. What I saw I will never forget, and I won’t start to describe. To even type this now from my aisle seat high above the Atlantic makes me shake and my eyes well up. What the hell happened out there today?! There was so much blood. So much pain. So much panic and fear.

The paramedics responded with an urgency and feverishness to which I am not accustomed. They tore off the man’s clothes, working almost spastically to clean and stabilize his wound. I heard one announce that the bullet was still lodged in him while another declared that he was losing too much blood.

This searing montage was interrupted intermittently by the cop’s crackling radio as officers updated the pursuit. There was a shared but virtually silent celebration when we learned that the shooter had ultimately been cornered and taken into custody by police near the Bay Bridge. Notions of civil justice, despite what the movies may tell you, feel quite hollow while still peering down at a body struggling for its life.

It took a few minutes before a maintenance worker noticed a funny little copper object at his feet and asked if it might be a shell casing. Alas, it was actually one of the two bullets fired, the other still burrowed deep within the victim’s flesh. This errant projectile was surprisingly rejected by the steel and concrete baseboard of the Beacon building and now lying motionless and deformed in the sidewalk crack. I wondered how warm it might be.

I went home and tried to busy myself with continued packing but noticed for the first time how sweaty I was, my shirt clinging to my body and my brow dripping. I tried to distract myself by loading up my iPod and making sure my toiletries all fit in the TSA-prescribed plastic bag. But, I soon couldn’t hold back the emotion.

What the fuck?! Where to start? What is going on here? What could drive someone to do such a thing? How does this happen in San Francisco one block from the ball park in the middle of the day? Why do we take all of life for granted? What allows some of us to sloganeer in the fight to own firearms and yet be myopic to the empirical result of gun ownership?

I wanted to write another piece of this post. I wanted to talk all about what it is like to grow up in an Upstate New York town where working at the Lions Club Gun Show was valued as volunteer work. I also thought I would write a bit about living in El Salvador on the heels of their civil war where everyone carried a gun, literally, everyone, and how I often encourage staunch gun possession advocates to go spend some time there and tell me if they feel any safer after daily exchanges of fire.

But, I am frankly just drained and hoping that as I finally fall asleep in seat 31C, there is a gunshot victim recovering in a San Francisco hospital. I hope his family can be with him tonight. And, I hope that everyone who saw what happened today takes a moment to relate that experience to others toward the end that we may someday realize the undeniable folly of guns.

(Update: Here is a link to the press account of what happened: http://www.ktvu.com/news/13440784/detail.html)

Comments

[Ben Casnocha]

Pretty incredible account. In some kind of perverse way, I kind of envy the experience you just want through. They really make us think.

[Duff]

The thing that jumped out at me was WTF is up with 911 being busy for that long?

I've had to call 911 5 or 6 times, mostly to report accidents and drunk drivers. Never ran into an on-hold situation -- especially midday during the week!

[anon]

Glad you're safe and took the time to share this story.

Here are two more points to ponder when considering the “undeniable folly of guns.”

1. Almost every man in Switzerland owns a gun—some of which are fully automatic.
2. Switzerland has one of the lowest crime rates in the world.

[mike mori]

Our violent reality intrudes unexpectedly.

Ben: Your desire to wring personal meaning from some guy getting gut shot speaks volumes.

I don't think the problem is guns. I think the problem is that some people expect peace in this world where there should be no such expectation. These will always be surprised by violence even though it is as natural and common as peace if you look closely. I do not say this to glorify it. As long as men envy, they will do violence. Violence in words, in thoughts, in actions, etc. It's always there, most just don't notice until it's lying on the ground in front of them.

[Robert Scoble]

Wow, what a gripping story. Among the best blog writing I've ever read.

[Me]

Someone had to pick up that gun and use it.

It was not the gun that committed that crime. It was a man, full of hate and evil. If it were not the gun, it may have been a knife or rock or hammer.

Please tell all your union carpenter friends that they'll have to use glue to construct a home. Hammers kill.

[Tyler Martin]

Wow, that was incredible.

A similar shooting incident happened right in front of our office building here in the Mission a couple months ago and it was, needless to say, quite traumatizing.

As a Canadian immigrating to the States here it's, I can honestly say, about the worst thing about this country: gun ownership. And there's a lot of other bad things I could mention. I got into a big discussion with my office mates about it and they had the gaul to call me a "self-righteous Canadian." My guess is that they've never witnessed an incident like this (the one who said that wasn't in the office at the time).

[Geoff Jones]

Amazing story well written. Its good you didn't lock up and managed to get the number.

[David]

Hi, nice to meet you, though I wish it was under different circumstances.

Good to know your instincts took over. It's an emotional post. I once had an experience that left an impact on me like that but it involved a drunk driver killing a teenage girl, who was working at a car dealer across the street from a restuarant I worked at in high scool part-time. She was working there to save up money to buy Christmas gifts.

What's worse? They never caught the guy who hit her.

She had just given me her phone number as I finally got the courage to ask her for it. It's the last thing she ever did. Over a decade later, I still grasp hopelessly at the meaning of it. I still remember it vividly, yet my mind has blocked out her name in my mind, likely as a self defense mechanism.

I wish blogs existed back then, as just sharing your story with so many starts and accelerates your mental healing process. I'm jealous.

[Gobion Rowlands]

Hi Chris,
When I met you last night in Oxford I had no idea!
Having been through some similar (but not quite so extreme events) when I was a member of the Guardian Angels (a looooong time ago!) I can sympathise with how the shock can take a while to sink in and also the constant surprise I felt when I saw some of the horrible things people could do to each other. On the flip side, along the way I also saw some amazing generosity and compassion.

Well done for getting the shooter's number plate - it may have been dangerous, but doing *something* and getting involved can count for a lot. That people cared enough to help will be a big comfort to the wounded man's family.

Cheers,
Gobion

[Claude]

That's a very moving situation you had to experience. Congratulations on helping catch the shooter.

as others have written, the problem is not guns, but criminals with guns.

One thing is for sure, the shooter attempted murder and he should be punished accordingly. Not sent to pshychologist or studied or whatever other preferred methods exist in today's criminal system. The death penalty or life in prison is what's needed.

Also remember that San Francisco gun ownership in San Francisco is a big issue and the belief that denying that right to its citizens will stop the very same thing you experienced is just that, an unfounded belief.

[Wolfman-K]

Chris, seriously, man. Great job, and not just on the writing (which is borderline brilliant). Too many people turn their heads and ignore situations such as this. Your a great person for helping out in any way you can. And since your actions lead to the capture of the shoot I'd say your a real hero. Nice work.

[pgrote]

Wow. Well written, and I really feel the emotion. You did a great job of keeping your head and getting the critical information needed.

I can just feel your helplessness when you returned to the victim.

[Jack Stack]

I commend you for your actions. Every citizen should act on the right instincts like you did. I don't agree with you posting this and exposing you and your family to potential retribution. Let's hope that doesn't happen. Good luck and god speed.

[Elias]

It's a shame that you had to witness such a tragedy. It's an outrage that such a thing is so common in America that, to paraphrase Stalin, it's not a tragedy but a statistic.

The heartbreaking story David relates actually provides an apt metaphor: almost everyone in America has access to a car. A few people drive drunk, but no one asks why we don't ban cars.

Some people (MADD) ask why we don't do more and more to punish drunk drivers, though this punitive approach doesn't do anything to prevent the incidence and aftermath of offenses.

Very few ask why we don't get rid of the *real* problem - drunks. This is because despite our amazing achievements as a society we have attempted to hide our abject failure at dealing with the hopelessness and emptiness that lead so many to substance abuse.

Likewise, very few on either side of the argument address the root cause of violence, which is almost exclusively driven by economic inequality. It wasn't any coincidence that violent crime dropped to its lowest levels in 40 years during the sweet years of the late 90s when labor shortages caused fast food chains to offer starting wages up to $10 an hour.

Guns do make it much easier for human beings to kill each other. But the logistics of enforcing a ban boggle the mind when the intended targets - criminals - by definition do not follow the law.

Consequently, gun control is a canard to distract an understandably angry and scared voting public from the bitter medicine they don't want to hear: people born into poorer classes, with the deck stacked against them of ever being able to get a piece of the American dream, suffering daily humiliation from TV ads, shoddy public transportation systems, explotative financing and a million other sources, wind up looking for vindication in the most petty and physical ways.

And now with mandatory minimums and three strikes laws, they increasingly end up in a jail run by a private company, doing data entry or other rote work for pennies on the dollar, while those terrified citizens barricade themselves in gated communities or retreat to distant suburbs of sprawl.

If you want to help solve the problem of violence, I suggest voting in every election (especially local ones) for candidates who are willing to put their constituents and communities over their campaign donors. Volunteer with organizations that work for inner city kids and substance abusers. Volunteering is better, but if you really can't, then donate. And last, meet your neighbors. It amazes me the amount of people who talk to their friends and family across the country but have never met the people across the hall.

Sorry for the long post, but I thought your traumatic experience deserved a thoughtful response. I sincerely hope you will consider your social and political views after this event as thoughtfully, taking care not to fall into the easy traps of "tough on crime" and "gun control" policies.

[JR]

Why am I not surprised the shooter was from Vallejo? I grew up in that shithole and witnessed all kinds of violence. I left ten years ago and I haven't looked back. Solano County in general (with a couple of exceptions) is a hopeless and depressing place.

Sorry you had to witness that, and I hope the victim recovers fully.

[Bryan Villarin]

This was an awesome post. I'm not sure what to add, except to say that you're a hero in my eyes.

[Rian]

I had a similar experience a few years ago. It was a little after dinner time on a summer evening. I was walking to my car with my wife in the parking lot of an enormous mall in California.

The sound was different from yours, the sound of a baseball bat hitting a melon. Arguing over a parking space a middle-aged man and shoved a elderly gentlemen to the ground. His head hitting the pavement.

The attacker lept in his car and escaped. The victim never woke up. I chased the car on foot, but couldn't get the plate. It hurts my heart to this day.

I hope you will find some relief in knowing you helped. And I hope you and your family are safe. And I hope that the victim survives. And I hope you find healing for the fear that erupted in front of you in that moment.

[Dan Shafer]

Gripping stuff. You prove yourself not only to be a heroic person (I can already hear your vehement denial, but that does not make the title less true) and a wonderful narrator.

I was dismayed to see how many people chose to focus not on your experience or on the events but on the issue of gun control. Aside from a woman's right to choose, there is no more emotional topic in American socio-politics. In my experience, few if any gun advocates have actually seen someone shot with a gun or shot someone themselves. I have. I'm on your side.

Hope you enjoy your stay in Europe.

[John Dowdell]

Good reflexes... thank you for what you did. It's hard to think in a situation like that, but you did the appropriate thing... telling.

More info:
"The man accused of shooting a pedestrian who was crossing a San Francisco street Monday afternoon is a convicted bank robber who drove into the city to commit a random crime against a stranger, San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris said today."
http://cbs5.com/localwire/localfsnews/bcn/2007/06/05/n/HeadlineNews/SF-SHOOTING/resources_bcn_html

That's why I find your plaint on "gun control" so dangerous. This felon was not legally permitted to have a gun. Yet he did.

Me, I have no interest in carrying a firearm myself, but I'd feel *much* safer if more legit citizens did so. It would reduce the incentives for evil people to abuse such "equalizers".

I'd beg you to reconsider your position. Our goal is to reduce harm, so it's vital to carefully examine the best way to prevent it. Remove the incentives for criminals to pack, and to attack. Return to citizens their equalizing power.

jd

[Vijay]

Chris I know you're a super bright guy so I wouldn't discount your opinion without consideration, but making judgements about the importance of the people's right to keep and bear arms in a moment of tragedy is not a good idea. It's always in moments of crisis (e.g., 911) that people are most apt to giving up their liberties for simply-stated specious solutions (have the government spy on us, or have the government collect up all our guns).

Not only is a ban on guns as futile as The War on Drugs or the Prohibition (see the 18th amendment and the consequent 21st amendment), but the real danger humanity faces is from a people unable to defend themselves against an all-powerful government. The gulf of time that separates us from the last government sanctioned genocide is not an ocean. It's barely a pond.

The founding fathers had it right when they said the right to bear arms is necessary to the preservation of a free state.

I'm sorry you had to witness a tragedy and I applaud your courage in helping catch the criminal.

[Steve Lerner]

Good job in keeping cool! I know you've been in some wild situations before so your instincts are well honed.

I grew up in a gang-ridden city and used to run when I heard bullets as a kid. As an adult I once saw a massive gunfight in the Mission between two gangs- I was working in a high end music studio, the one where Herbie Hancock did most of his work, and was on the 2nd floor when it started...Not sure what happened to those who got shot- I think their follow gang members hauled them away.

But as far as gun control goes- maybe if we spent hundreds of billions of dollars on education, R&D, and health care instead of on wars with no exit strategy we'd find that these types of problems decrease...

[Clemens]

Bravo.

[Ryan Brill]

Amazing story. This happened right outside of the office of the web development company I contact for. Makes it more real when you have something physical to tie the event to.

I have to strongly agree with the comments about gun control, however. The blame should never be shifted away from the people to the guns. The guns are not what commits the crime.

[Keller]

Intense - just another day in the life for Chris Sacca. I hope the accused individual is not part of the Marlo Stanfield crew.

Guns - Perhaps one day I'll be insecure enough to carry a gun---but for now, I'm just gonna relax and go about my way.