A man died by suicide after being chased by police on Friday (March 14), according to East Palo Alto Police Chief Jeff Liu.
Police were called to the 2700 block of Xavier Street at 3:41 p.m. on report of a man with a gun, Liu said.
Police responded to the area and confronted the man, identified by the coroner’s office as Jesus Alberto Fajardo Lopez, 32, of East Palo Alto. Lopez ran away, Liu said.
As Lopez was running, he turned around and briefly pointed his gun at the officers before running away again, Liu said.
Lopez ran into an open field behind Tulane Avenue where officers lost sight of him, Liu said. Shortly after losing sight of the man, around 4 p.m., officers heard a gunshot.
Menlo Park police helped establish a perimeter and the Menlo Park Fire Protection District’s drone operator responded to help find the man, Liu said.
The drone operator found Lopez hidden behind a large bush. When officers arrived they found him suffering from a single gunshot wound and the gun in his hand, Liu said.
Fire and police tried to save Lopez, but he was pronounced dead at the scene, Liu said.
Help is available. If you or someone you know is having a mental health crisis, call or text the 24/7 suicide and crisis lifeline at 988.