Vigilante pulls gun at mural tribute
Police probe incident at Breonna Taylor site
San Rafael police are investigating an incident where a man pointed a gun at bystanders at a Breonna Taylor memorial in Terra Linda.
The confrontation was caught on video Thursday and posted to socialmedia. Theman was trying to wash off a chalk mural honoring Taylor, the Black woman who was fatally shot by police in March during a raid in Louisville, Kentucky.
Last week, a grand jury declined to indict the officers for her death, setting off protests around the country.
This chalk mural at the intersection of Manuel T. Freitas Parkway and Las Gallinas Avenue was originally removed by the city on Sept. 3. The city deemed it graffiti because it did not go through the public approval process.
Since then, the mural has been removed several times, not by city employees, and redrawn by Taylor supporters.
Theman trying to washing away the mural on Thursday tried to pose as a city worker.
Vallejo resident Jeremy Smith, 28, recorded the incident as he was going to his job. He noticed a commotion so he stopped and asked the suspect, “What are you doing, bro?”
The man replied, “I’m with the city.”
The man — who was wearing a face covering, cyan T-shirt and cargo shorts — is not a city employee, said Cristine Alilovich, assistant city manager.
“If we hada city employee out there they would
be clearly marked in San Rafael apparel and I can assure you I know every single employee,” Alilovich said. “We have not deployed any public works staff to that site.”
She added that the city has not removed the chalk since Sept. 3 and left a note asking for the muralist to contact the city.
San Rafael police Lt. Dan Fink said investigators do have a few leads and hope to identify a suspect soon. He said police have the description of a vehicle that could be linked to the man.
Fink said police are aware of the video and have taken statements from witnesses. He said investigators are not sure if theman brandished a firearm or a stun gun.
“Either way it’s still a felony,” he said. “I know Tasers do have yellow tips, but toy guns are supposed to have orange tips and we know people routinely take those off.
“We have heard from multiple eyewitnesses who say they did not see a color that would indicate it’s a Taser and not a firearm,” he said. “But we know that can be manipulated, but right now we are assuming it was a gun.”
He added that officers have been told to perform extra patrols of the area.
Alilovich said the city is working to find an alternative location for the chalk art because of increasing concerns for public safety.
“There have been a couple incidents where community members are having some conflicts amongst themselves,” she said. “We want to make sure everything stays peaceful.”
Smith said he did not fear for his safety, but rather for the safety of a handful of bystanders, including a mother and her child in a stroller.
“I’m kind of frustrated that he would even pull the gun out, but honestly it seemed premeditated,” he said. “I think he knew what he was doing and he knew that could happen, so he armed himself just in case.”
He said the man might have felt threatened by the handful of people recording and demanding he stop scrubbing away the chalk, but it’s no excuse for brandishing a weapon.
San Rafael Mayor Gary Phillips said, “Hopefully, we determine who the perpetrator is and we will take appropriate action if that person is found to be at fault.”
The incident was not the first confrontation at the intersection since the mural was chalked. Several residents have shared concerns about groups of hooded and masked men washing away the mural at night.
“We’ve got numerous calls over three weeks about different kinds of disturbances from people to the effect of trying to take down the mural or put it up,” Fink said. “Obviously, it’s a very hot topic for the community. We are taking the time to make sure we are keeping peace.”