Police: Man said he wanted to ‘shoot up a school’

By the Daily Post staff

Police are looking for a man who they say went into the Big 5 Sporting Goods store at 2825 S. El Camino Real in San Mateo and told an employee he wanted to buy a gun to “shoot up a school.”

A customer called police around 5:50 p.m. Friday to report the comment. The customer said he overheard another customer tell an employee he wanted to purchase a firearm and shoot up a school, asking the clerk for a good shirt to wear, according to San Mateo police.

Officers responded within minutes and searched the store, but didn’t find the man. According to police, the witnesses didn’t find the man’s statements to be credible, but police said that in an abundance of caution, they asking the public’s help in finding the man.

He is described as a white man about 35 years old wearing a camouflage sweatshirt and blue jeans. Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or, alternatively, the San Mateo Police dispatch center at (650) 522-7700.