Luis D. Gongora Pat, San Francisco, CA
Mural entitled "Justice for Luís D. Góngora Pat", Clarion Alley, San Francisco, California. The artists are Elaine Chu and Marina Perez-Wong. Luís Demetrio Góngora Pat was a 45-year-old man from the Mayan village of Teabo, in the Mexican province of Yucatán. In San Francisco, Luís Demetrio Góngora Pat was a resident of a homeless encampment on 18th and Shotwell Streets. On April 7, 2016, Luís Góngora was shot by two police officers. Within 30 seconds of exiting their patrol vehicles, San Francisco Police Department’s officers unloaded four beanbag rounds and seven live rounds at Luís. The SFPD’s officers’ statement alleges that Luís lunged at them with a knife. However, eight eyewitness statements, security video footage, images of Luís’ body presented to the press from the independent autopsy and the Medical Examiner’s Report contradict the officers’ account. According to forensic evidence and eyewitness accounts, Luís never threatened the officers. He did not hold a knife. He was facing away from the officers when they shot him with beanbag rounds. He was killed by a bullet to the head following a steep downwards trajectory as the officers continued to shoot him after Luís had fallen. In 2019 an SFPD investigation ruled the officers actions were "out of policy" and escalated the situation. The police department recommended 30- and 45-day suspensions for the officers as punishment, as well as retraining.
Luis D. Gongora Pat, San Francisco, CA
Mural entitled "Justice for Luís D. Góngora Pat", Clarion Alley, San Francisco, California. The artists are Elaine Chu and Marina Perez-Wong. Luís Demetrio Góngora Pat was a 45-year-old man from the Mayan village of Teabo, in the Mexican province of Yucatán. In San Francisco, Luís Demetrio Góngora Pat was a resident of a homeless encampment on 18th and Shotwell Streets. On April 7, 2016, Luís Góngora was shot by two police officers. Within 30 seconds of exiting their patrol vehicles, San Francisco Police Department’s officers unloaded four beanbag rounds and seven live rounds at Luís. The SFPD’s officers’ statement alleges that Luís lunged at them with a knife. However, eight eyewitness statements, security video footage, images of Luís’ body presented to the press from the independent autopsy and the Medical Examiner’s Report contradict the officers’ account. According to forensic evidence and eyewitness accounts, Luís never threatened the officers. He did not hold a knife. He was facing away from the officers when they shot him with beanbag rounds. He was killed by a bullet to the head following a steep downwards trajectory as the officers continued to shoot him after Luís had fallen. In 2019 an SFPD investigation ruled the officers actions were "out of policy" and escalated the situation. The police department recommended 30- and 45-day suspensions for the officers as punishment, as well as retraining.