SFPD holds meeting on fatal shooting of suspect in dispensary owner attack

Sharing is caring!

Following an apparently unprovoked attack on the proprietor of a cannabis business last week, the San Francisco Police Department released additional information on Tuesday regarding the officer-involved shooting that took place close to Civic Center Plaza.

Emergency dispatch was notified of a shooting that occurred in front of a marijuana business on Ninth Street between Market and Mission streets just before 5 p.m. on January 27.

In addition to surveillance footage, emergency dispatch calls, officer body camera footage, and investigative images, police conducted a virtual town hall meeting to discuss the circumstances surrounding the officer-involved shooting.

Martin Olive, the owner of a cannabis dispensary, was standing on the sidewalk in front of his marijuana shop when a bike wearing dark clothing rode toward him, according to video security.

The rider, later identified as Cheasarak Chong, 34, dismounts his bike and approaches Olive in the video. Chong seems to quickly draw a revolver and shoot Olive many times up close.

Olive is seen fainting while clutching the back of his head. Chong seems to have kept shooting after Olive hit the ground.

Olive is left for dead when the gunman nonchalantly leaves and enters the apartment building next to the dispensary.

In addition to bystanders who helped Olive, multiple witnesses called emergency dispatch.

Olive was told by one of the calls, “Calm down buddy, they’ll be here,” In the background, Olive can be heard moaning and sobbing.

Olive miraculously survived the heinous assault despite suffering six gunshot wounds.

Acting Commander Mark Im stated during the town hall that investigating detectives believe Chong had locked himself in his top-floor apartment at 81 Ninth St.

Officers from the hostage/crisis negotiation team attempted to contact Chong for two hours, but he allegedly refused to cooperate with their requests.

Then, a number of police officers stood on the apartment building’s roof, viewing the windows of Chong’s brightly illuminated flat below.

Three shots may be heard following the police’s deployment of two foam projectiles. Although the department claims that the suspect fired these bullets, the body camera footage makes this unclear.

Chong seemed to look through one of the blinds when Officer David Edgerson fired several shots into a smaller window of the residence twelve seconds later.

“Live video feed from a drone revealed that Mr. Chong was not moving and laying on the kitchen floor with a rifle slung on his body,” Im stated.

At the scene, Chong was declared deceased. Inside his residence, investigators allegedly discovered three handguns—two loaded—one loaded rifle, several magazines, five bullet casings, and a protective vest.

The SFPD did not disclose any information regarding Chong’s possible motivation for assaulting Olive. Investigations into both shootings are still in their early phases, and more information might be made public in the future.

Chong has previously in trouble with the law. According to his public defenders, he was acquitted of attempted murder in 2018 after stabbed an attacker in self-defense.

The ultimate determination of whether Edgerson and other responding cops acted legally will be made by the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office.

Olive informed his fans on Instagram a few hours prior to the town hall that he had been discharged from the hospital following six nights there.

“Discharged from the hospital last night with a mostly full recovery expected,” he stated. “Even though the dreams are definitely not cool, I’m thankful to be able to sleep in my bed. I sincerely want to thank each and every one of you for your love, support, and smiles. It has sustained me.”