SFPD in headlines after a flurry of violent incidents and threats near SF—city police department; handles crimes in SF and at SFO.
San Francisco Mayor Lurie was involved in a street altercation on March 5 in the Tenderloin district, where his security guard was body-slammed during a confrontation with homeless individuals. The incident was captured on video, showing Lurie walking away as his security was assaulted. The mayor was unharmed, but the event has sparked debate over city safety and leadership.
In early February 2026, the FBI issued a confidential alert warning that Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise drone attack from an unidentified vessel off the California coast if the US struck Iran. Officials, including the White House and California Governor Gavin Newsom, emphasize no credible or imminent threat exists, but security measures remain heightened amid ongoing US-Iran conflict.
In March 2026, President Trump ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to over a dozen major U.S. airports to assist with severe TSA staffing shortages caused by a Department of Homeland Security funding impasse. The deployment aimed to ease long security lines but sparked controversy over ICE's role and effectiveness, highlighted by a forceful arrest at San Francisco International Airport.
Nation Wood, 25, was arrested after allegedly shooting and killing his girlfriend, Samantha Emge, 22, in San Francisco. Wood claims it was an accident during a dry-fire. He faces involuntary manslaughter charges, and the incident is under investigation. Emge was a recent graduate and interior designer. The case raises questions about firearm safety and domestic violence.
On April 10, 2026, a 20-year-old suspect has thrown a Molotov cocktail at Sam Altman’s San Francisco residence, setting an exterior gate on fire. The suspect then threatened to burn down OpenAI’s headquarters before being arrested. No injuries have been reported. Authorities and OpenAI are investigating the motive and ensuring employee safety.
Daniel Moreno-Gama, 20, has been charged with attempted murder and arson after throwing a Molotov cocktail at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's San Francisco home and threatening to burn down OpenAI's headquarters. Moreno-Gama traveled from Texas, carried an anti-AI manifesto with threats against Altman, and faces federal and state charges that could lead to life imprisonment. No injuries have been reported.
A San Francisco business theft involving a Waymo driverless car remains unsolved months after a January incident. Police obtained video and account data but have not identified a suspect. The company says it does not use facial recognition and reviews requests for legal validity.