San Francisco Police Release Bodycam Footage of Controversial Shooting in North Beach

 

San Francisco Police Release Bodycam Footage of Controversial Shooting in North Beach

San Francisco police released body-worn camera footage Thursday showing a dramatic and controversial officer-involved shooting that occurred in North Beach last weekend. The footage captured an officer shooting 28-year-old Oliver Barcenas in the back as he fled from a group stop for open-container violations just after midnight on a crowded street. };

According to police officials, Barcenas had been standing with four other men at the corner of Grant Avenue and Green Street, reportedly drinking alcohol in public. During a brief interaction with a police officer, Barcenas fled the scene. As the officer gave chase, Barcenas allegedly removed his jacket and revealed a loaded .45 caliber Glock pistol with a laser sight, which he had tucked into his waistband.

Police Cmdr. Greg McEachern said the weapon contained 26 rounds, and Barcenas brandished it during the pursuit. The video footage shows Barcenas weaving through a crowded sidewalk, passing by groups of people, including two women clinging to one another. Moments later, the officer fired two rounds, striking Barcenas from behind and causing him to collapse in the street. };

The incident took place in a lively neighborhood filled with people celebrating the final game of the NBA Finals. The timing and location of the shooting raised significant concerns among community members, many of whom gathered at a Thursday evening meeting to view the video and ask questions. Several residents expressed fear that bystanders could have easily been harmed.

Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who attended the meeting, acknowledged the danger of the situation and voiced skepticism after watching the video. “Those videos do not look good,” Peskin said. “I did not see the part where he takes the jacket off. I did not see the part where anyone is swinging around with a gun.” He emphasized that multiple investigations into the shooting are currently underway. };

The officer who fired in the latest shooting was not publicly named. His partner, who was parking the patrol vehicle during the chase, did not witness the shooting. Both officers’ bodycam footage was collected along with surveillance video from nearby buildings. In the released footage, an officer is heard yelling, “He had a firearm… Dude, back people up. There’s a gun around here,” as a crowd quickly formed at the scene.

Several attendees at the meeting voiced disappointment with how the situation was handled. Natalie April, 24, who said she once worked with Barcenas at Farmgirl Flowers, believed the officer acted too quickly. “I think he was doing his job, but it looks really bad,” April said. “Honestly, I think he panicked.”

Others at the meeting questioned the decision to stop the group in the first place. Theresa Flandrich, a longtime North Beach resident and mother, expressed concern that implicit bias might have played a role. “Was it their color of skin? Was it their hoodie jackets?” she asked. “What would make you stop this particular group?” }; ">Wanda Ravernell, a 64-year-old Oakland resident, said the shooting was reckless given the number of people on the street. “It looked very dangerous to me,” she said. “That looked very careless.”

Barcenas was transported from the scene with life-threatening injuries and remains hospitalized. He faces multiple charges, including being a felon in possession of a firearm. }; The incident has added to ongoing discussions about police conduct, use of force, and community trust in San Francisco—particularly when encounters escalate from minor offenses to potentially deadly outcomes.