Car theft suspect shot, CHP officer injured in San Francisco

Police and other officials were investigating an incident in San Francisco's Ocean View neighborhood on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016. Police and other officials were investigating an incident in San Francisco's Ocean View neighborhood on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016. Photo: KTVU Photo: KTVU Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Car theft suspect shot, CHP officer injured in San Francisco 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

Police shot a car theft suspect Tuesday in San Francisco, and a California Highway Patrol officer was injured in the confrontation, officials said.

The CHP officer was with two other officers — from different police agencies — doing an operation with the San Mateo County auto theft task force when the incident unfolded, and he suffered abrasions and a minor head injury, said highway patrol spokesman Vu Williams.

The suspect, who had been shot multiple times, was taken to San Francisco General Hospital in critical condition. The shooting occured a little more than a block away from Ocean View playground.

It wasn’t clear whether the suspect was armed, said Sgt. Michael Andraychak, a police spokesman.

The incident happened about 3:30 p.m. near Capitol Avenue and Montana Street in the Ocean View neighborhood, and involved a vehicle crash. The officers had followed a stolen Honda from San Mateo County into San Francisco, then stopped the car near Montana Street and Faxon Avenue, Andraychak said.

A 38-year-old man who identified himself as the suspect’s best friend and gave only his first name, Elisha, said the two grew up together.

Elisha said the suspect was in a stolen vehicle and was being chased by police. He doesn’t have a gun, but sometimes carries a blade, Elisha said.

The sounds of the confrontation were heard through the neighborhood.

Lydia Gonzales, 39, was working at home when she heard gunshots and the sound of tires screeching. People soon started yelling at officers, asking if they had shot a man.

“I was walking up the street, and then I hear a crash,” said Mellody Gannon, 58, who was strolling with her dog at the time. “Boom, boom, boom. There were four shots.”

Almost immediately, she said, she heard sirens, and police cars rushed to the area.

“Nothing’s worth a person’s life,” Gannon said.

A similar confrontation happened in May, when Sgt. Justin Erb opened fire on a woman in a stolen car on Elmira Street near Interstate 280. The death of the woman, Jessica Williams, led to Police Chief Greg Suhr’s resignation later that day.

The Tuesday shooting happened just two weeks after San Francisco police Officer Kevin Downs was shot in the head while responding to a report of a man acting erratically and threatening people near Stern Grove.

The gunman in the Oct. 14 incident, Nicholas McWherter, was fatally shot by two officers and later died at a hospital. Downs is recovering at a rehabilitation facility.

Jenna Lyons and Kimberly Veklerov are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jylons@sfchronicle.com, kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov @jennajourno