Homeless Shelter Workers Harbored Gunman Who Shot Officer In SF: Police

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Two workers at a city-contracted homeless shelter were arrested Thursday on suspicion of helping a gunman accused of shooting an officer in San Francisco evade police, authorities said.

Erika Porter, 45, and Oliver Barcenas, 36, are accused of helping Norris Reed III evade police after repeatedly shooting an officer on the night of May 31, authorities said. The two shelter workers were arrested on suspicion of "obstruction and harboring an attempted murder suspect who shot an SFPD officer in May," Chief Derrick Lew announced Friday.

"Attempting to assist an armed gunman evade capture after shooting a police officer is unconscionable," Lew said in a statement Friday. "Thankfully, our officers captured this violent suspect despite the efforts by two individuals to help him."

Police say officers pulled Reed over around 10:29 p.m. in the area of Mission and 1st streets in connection with a robbery.

But Reed fled soon after, driving through city streets before crashing in the area of Bayshore Boulevard and Jerrold Avenue, police said.

When officers arrived at the site of the wreck, Reed shot at them, striking one officer multiple times, police said. Police said officers fired back, although it's unclear if they struck anyone.

Reed, according to the police, then ran off and headed to a homeless shelter at 125 Bayshore Blvd.

Officers visited the shelter while searching for the suspect and spoke with Porter, police said. She gave officers false statements to prevent officers from finding him, police said.

There, Barcenas gave Reed clothes to hide his identity, even though he knew Reed was armed with a gun, police said. Security footage from the center shows Barcenas helping Reed, police said.

Despite the new clothes, officers located Reed after receiving a call saying he was inside the gate of the navigation center, police said.

Officers arrested Reed in connection with the shooting and seized two firearms that he had in his waistband, police said.

Reed was charged with attempted murder and multiple felonies in connection with the shooting, police said. A second suspect injured during the shootout was given medical attention at the scene and later arrested, according to CBS News.

The injured officer is still recovering from her injuries, but has since been discharged from the hospital, police said.

The shelter where the employees are accused of helping the suspect is part of a program designed to shelter San Francisco's "highly vulnerable and long-term homeless residents who are often fearful of accessing traditional shelter and services," according to the San Francisco Public Works website. They're called navigation centers.

In a statement to Patch, the San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, which operates the centers, called the incident a "deeply troubling and difficult situation."

The workers were not contracted by the city or county, but employees of a nonprofit organization contracted to operate the center, Deborah Bouck, San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing communications manager, said.

The suspect, meanwhile, was neither a client nor a guest at the center, Bouck said.

"The safety of shelter residents and staff is of the utmost importance to the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH)," Bouck said. "HSH requires all shelter operators to follow our law enforcement access policy, which requires shelter staff to cooperate with SFPD and within clearly defined legal parameters, while also protecting the privacy and rights of shelter guests."

Bouck added that all contracted operators and their employees must comply with these rules.

"Our thoughts are with the injured officer, the residents impacted, and everyone affected by the circumstances surrounding this incident," Bouck said. "Because this remains an active law enforcement matter, we will not comment on the specific allegations. "

Police asked that anyone with more information contact the SFPD at 415-575-4444.