Hayward Man Found Guilty Of Attempted Murder Of SF Cops

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – A 35-year-old Hayward man was found guilty today of attempted murder and other felonies for shooting at two San Francisco police officers in the Castro District last year, prosecutors said.

Sesar Valadez was convicted for the shooting that occurred on Nov. 1, 2017, in the area of the first block of Diamond Street.

The case began when Officers Samuel Fung and Shawn Kai Hintzen were on foot patrol on 18th Street between Castro and Collingwood streets and a man approached them to report seeing someone breaking into a vehicle nearby, according to the district attorney's office.

The officers approached and noticed a man, later identified as Valadez, inside a parked car with his legs facing outside of the open rear passenger door and three other people standing on the sidewalk near the car, prosecutors said.

The trio walked away as the officers approached, but Valadez closed the door and locked himself inside. The officers asked whom the car belonged to and asked that he exit the vehicle, but he refused, saying he did not have the keys, prosecutors said.

Valadez pushed the driver's side door open shortly afterward and fired two shots at Hintzen's chest. They did not pierce his bulletproof vest but caused him to stumble backwards and onto the ground, according to the district attorney's office.

Valadez then got out of the vehicle and pointed his handgun at Fung, who ducked, drew his firearm and moved south on Diamond Street. Valadez chased the officer and shot 14 times at him, prompting Fung to return fire and empty his magazine, prosecutors said.

After taking cover behind a parked car, Fung reloaded his firearm and fired more shots until seeing Valadez crouched on the ground, wounded from gunfire in the right pelvic area, prosecutors said.

Caught in the crossfire was Hintzen, who suffered gunshot wounds to the hand and stomach. He was hospitalized for more than three weeks, according to the district attorney's office.

Valadez was found guilty by a San Francisco Superior Court jury of two counts of attempted murder of a peace officer, two counts of assault on a peace officer with a semi-automatic firearm, and one count each of discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle and discharging a firearm with
gross negligence, prosecutors said.

"I know far too well the dangers associated with wearing the uniform," District Attorney and former San Francisco police Chief George Gascon said in a news release. "Police officers take an oath to serve and protect, and those who take aim at them will feel the full weight of their
actions."

Valadez is set to be sentenced on Jan. 18.

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--Bay City News/Image from crime scene via SFPD