Protesters demand chief step down over Mario Woods shooting

Protesters gather outside the Hall of Justice on Bryant Street Friday morning, demanding San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr resign over the recent officer-involved fatal shooting of Mario Woods in the city's Bayview neighborhood. less Protesters gather outside the Hall of Justice on Bryant Street Friday morning, demanding San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr resign over the recent officer-involved fatal shooting of Mario Woods in the city's ... more Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Protesters demand chief step down over Mario Woods shooting 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

Protesters again took to the streets of San Francisco on Friday, demanding Police Chief Greg Suhr resign immediately over the death of Mario Woods and that the five officers who shot him earlier this month be charged with murder.

Dozens gathered outside the Hall of Justice on Bryant Street about 11 a.m., holding signs reading “Justice for Mario Woods,” “Black Lives Matter” and “Fire Chief Suhr.”

“We are demanding Mayor Ed Lee hold Chief Suhr for official misconduct. We are demanding that he fire Chief Suhr,” Minister Christopher Muhammad, of the Nation of Islam in San Francisco, told the crowd. “We are demanding that all five officers who shot Mario Woods be charged with murder.

“We do not know the truth, but we are out here demanding the truth,” Muhammad said.

The Hall of Justice houses the District Attorney’s Office, numerous courtrooms and one of the county jails, and protesters picked the venue to call for repercussions in the shooting, which community members have described as an “execution by firing squad” and a “grave injustice.”

Demonstrators had planned to march up to District Attorney George Gascón’s office, but he came down to speak to them directly.

“I assure you that there will be a thorough and independent investigation,” Gascón told the protesters. “A person lost his life and my office is looking at all parts of the law. It will be a transparent process. I look at this as the beginning of a dialogue.”

City Supervisor David Campos also spoke to the crowd, saying the Woods shooting was troubling for all city residents.

“With a tragedy of this depth, it’s not just an African American issue, it’s not just a people-of-color issue, it’s a San Francisco issue,” said Campos, who suggested the city pay for Woods’ funeral.

Woods was killed Dec. 2 around 4:30 p.m. after officers searching for a suspect in an earlier stabbing nearby surrounded him as he slumped against a wall just off Third Street in the Bayview district.

Suhr has rejected demands for him to step down while at the same time calling for his officers to be equipped with stun guns, riot shields and increased training in deescalation.

But Campos said that suggesting stun guns would solve a problem that stems more from a disconnect with the community than a lack of proper equipment “misses the whole point.”

“The point was not about what tools were available. The way the police interact with the community needs to change,” he said.

The chief has repeatedly said his men were forced to fire after Woods — who had already been shot with bean bag rounds and pepper spray — refused to drop a small kitchen knife and moved toward an officer with an outstretched arm.

The incident was captured on video by several bystanders and lawyers for the Woods family have cast doubt on the police version of events. At a press conference announcing a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city last week, lawyers for the Woods family said an enhanced version of the video shows that Woods’ arm only went up after the first shots rang out.

At his funeral Thursday, many who knew him said that, despite Woods’ recent release from prison for a robbery he pleaded guilty to in 2010, he had served his time, was gentle and was looking to do good.

“My child wasn’t an animal. He wasn’t uncouth. He was a good soul,” Woods’ mother, Gwendolyn Woods, told mourners at the service.

Shawn Richard, a spokesman for the Woods family, which includes his mother and two brothers, said the ordeal has taken a heavy toll.

“The family is devastated,” he said Friday. “His brothers aren’t doing well and his mom can hardly sleep, but Mario was the sacrifice this community needed to come together.”

Gascon said he planned to host a meeting with protesters Friday afternoon.

Kale Williams is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: kwilliams@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfkale