Vigil for police shooting victim Jessica Williams in the Bayview tonight. pic.twitter.com/kYqrjhUjOe
— Lizzie Johnson (@lizziejohnsonnn) May 28, 2016
The SFPD sergeant who shot and killed an unarmed woman last week was identified publicly for the first time late Friday, just as a march and vigil were being held in honor of the victim in the Bayview. As KRON 4 reports, the man who fired the single, fatal shot on May 19 was Sgt. Justin Erb. The killing, which remains under investigation, led directly to the forced resignation of Chief Greg Suhr following months of protest over officer-involved shootings.
Sgt. Erb has been with the force since 2001, and as the Chronicle re-explains, he and one other officer engaged in a brief pursuit of 29-year-old Jessica Williams ending on Elmira Street in the Bayview, where Williams reportedly crashed the car she was driving into a parked truck, and then was attempting to continue fleeing when Erb shot her. No weapon was found on Williams, though the SFPD earlier said they were conducting a search of the car to make sure. The results of that search have not been revealed.
48 Hills and the Chron further describe the vigil that took place Friday evening at Third and Palou Streets, attended by about 50 friends, family members, and activists. Williams was born Jessica Nelson and was raised by an aunt and her father in Sacramento, but family members say she had cut off ties with much of that family in recent years while she began living in San Francisco, mostly on the street. Her cousin Porsche McCullough Bowens tells the Chronicle, "She was not a saint, but she never tried to hurt anyone."
The woman who became her street mother, Jennifer Williams, whose last name Jessica would eventually adopt as her own, tells 48 Hills that Jessica and her fiancé "were camped at a nearby industrial, they had to keep moving as the police came, but they were always into people always helping. No matter what they did, even if it was illegal they were good people. There was always something very peaceful about Jessica."
Cousin Yolanda Udell confirms for the site that Jessica was apparently four months pregnant at the time of her death. She already had five children, all of whom are being raised by a sister.
Another new detail, unconfirmed but mentioned by one family member at the vigil: There was a passenger in the car with Jessica who jumped out and fled shortly before the confrontation with Erb and his partner.
It remains to be seen what disciplinary action may come as a result of the shooting. Mayor Ed Lee has said "there has to be consequences" and "accountability and discipline," but as of now the investigation is ongoing.
Previously: Woman Fatally Shot By SFPD ID'd As Memorial For Her Grows