The subject of a North Beach chase during which police gunfire struck and injured two bystanders was found dead at the San Francisco County Jail this weekend, just weeks before his trial in the 2011 case was to begin.

25-year-old Jesus Octavio Rodriguez has been in SF jail since September 17 of 2011. Here's what happened, from the Chron report at the time:

Officers were on foot patrol when they noticed a suspect making a drug transaction on the 400 block of Broadway at 2:06 a.m. Saturday, police said. The man ran away and pulled out - but did not fire - a loaded semiautomatic pistol, and an officer fired numerous shots in his direction, according to San Francisco police Lt. Troy Dangerfield.

"In the process, the suspect was not hit," Dangerfield said. But two bystanders were hit by gunfire. A woman was hit in the upper right thigh, and a man was struck in the lower left leg, he said. They were treated at San Francisco General Hospital and released.

The suspect Jesus Paredes Rodriguez, 20, of San Pablo, dropped his gun and was arrested on suspicion of assault and weapons violations. His weapon had one round in the chamber and 21 rounds in the magazine, Dangerfield said.

Neither the officers nor Rodriguez was injured. The officers were put on paid administrative leave, pending an investigation. Their names were not released.

Rodriguez's been in SF County Jail ever since, unable to pay his $1 million bond as he awaited trial. That is, until 7:15 a.m. Sunday, when officials say that he was found unresponsive in his pod at at SF's County Jail No. 5, which is located in San Bruno. This, just weeks before he was set to go to trial "to face charges of assault with a firearm on a peace officer, resisting arrest and possession of a loaded gun," the Chron reports.

Sheriff's officials say that the San Mateo County coroner is investigating the case, and has yet to release the cause of death. The San Francisco Public Defender's Office, which was defending Rodriguez, will also be investigating. According to PD's office spokesperson Tamara Aparton, Rodriguez had been "very active in helping his attorney go over everything and prepare his (trial) defense because he was looking toward his future, furthering his education and participating in a re-entry program.”