Now-viral video footage captured the moment that U.S. Coast Guard security officers opened fire on a U-Haul truck late on Thursday, after the vehicle’s driver abruptly reversed toward officials at a security checkpoint gate at Coast Guard Island in Alameda.
[snip]
Footage of the incident shows a tense standoff at the bridge to Coast Guard Island, where officers had been guarding the entrance amid large protests against President Donald Trump and federal immigration officials.
The officials, deployed at the base to prepare for expanded immigration operations in the Bay Area, faced furious left-wing protesters blocking its access. Protestors had attempted to block the only bridge leading to the island in opposition to Trump’s crime crackdown in San Francisco.
The Coast Guard noted that the truck driver had already been driving erratically before suddenly reversing, and the agency also confirmed that no personnel were injured in the incident.
“When the vehicle’s actions posed a direct threat to the safety of Coast Guard and security personnel, law enforcement officers discharged several rounds of live fire,” the Coast Guard stated.
The driver, who has not been publicly identified, was transported to a local hospital with a gunshot wound to the stomach. He is expected to survive.
Local CBS affiliate KPIX photographer Rick Villaroman described the moment, explaining that the driver “just hit the gas and sped towards them … And that’s when they opened fire. About 20 to 30 rounds,” he continued, adding that “the driver of the U-Haul came back, parked it down this street here, and walked out and left.”
[snip]
The DHS stated that the FBI is not leading an investigation into the incident.
“At this time, the incident appears to be isolated, and there is no known current threat to the public,” FBI spokesperson Cameron Polan in San Francisco said in a statement.
Protesters had gathered in response to President Trump’s announcement of potential federal troop deployment to San Francisco, with Coast Guard Island designated as their staging area. However, Trump later postponed the decision after discussions with San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie.
“I spoke to Mayor Lurie last night and he asked, very nicely, that I give him a chance to see if he can turn it around.
[snip]
“The people of San Francisco have come together on fighting Crime, especially since we began to take charge of that very nasty subject. Great people like Jenson Huang, Marc Benioff, and others have called, saying that the future of San Francisco is great. They want to give it a ‘shot.’ Therefore, we will not surge San Francisco on Saturday. Stay tuned!”
Stay informed! Receive breaking news alerts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts
* Original Article:
https://www.oann.com/newsroom/calif-u-s-coast-guard-security-officers-fire-on-u-haul-truck-reversing-toward-them-at-checkpoint-gate/