Man Shot Dead By Police After Ramming Car Into Chinese Consulate In San Francisco
ForbesOct 25, 2023
The Facts
On Monday, San Francisco police shot and killed a man who crashed his car into the lobby of the Chinese consulate.
Police say that the crash happened at around 3:09 p.m. local time when an unidentified suspect drove his car into the visa office of the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China. Witnesses say around 20 people were present, but no one besides the driver was injured.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Although the details are yet to be fully released, the suspect seemingly set out to cause damage to the consulate's property and likely intended to cause grievous bodily injury to those inside. Luckily, local police were able to contain this situation, and the US is working quickly to deal with the incident and find answers regarding the motive and the identity of the suspect.
Establishment-critical narrative
While a swift investigation is a must, the San Francisco Chinese Consulate's history of similar violent incidents calls into question the efficacy of the US security. Rather than merely reacting to such incidents, the US must take preventative measures to ensure the safety of its consulate staff before such occurrences tarnish US diplomacy.