South San Francisco — Police officers shot and critically wounded 28-year-old Luis Francisco-Marzo on December 8, 2025. after responding to a 911 call about a disturbance involving a knife at a home in the 900-block of Sandra Court near Susie Way.
Incident Details
At approximately 5:10 a.m., SSF officers responded to reports that a person — allegedly under the influence of drugs and armed with a knife — was making suicidal statements inside a residence. When Francisco-Marzo exited the home and officers attempted to de-escalate, he reportedly removed a concealed knife and brandished it. Officers deployed a Taser and ordered him to drop the weapon. According to the police statement, the Taser “was ineffective,” and when the Francisco-Marzo ignored further commands and charged at officers with the knife raised, two officers fired their service weapons. Francisco-Marzo was struck and then transported to a local trauma center in critical condition.
The SSF Detective Bureau is investigating the shooting, and the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office has launched a separate review.
Legal Oversight and Use-of-Force Standards
Under California law, the use of lethal force by peace officers is governed by California Penal Code § 835a, which permits officers to fire their weapons only when they reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent imminent death or serious bodily injury to themselves or others.
Key considerations in the review will include:
- Whether the individual’s actions — brandishing a knife and advancing toward officers — posed an immediate and serious threat;
- Whether officers attempted de-escalation or less-lethal means, and whether those options were feasible under the circumstances;
- Whether departmental policy, training, and use-of-force protocol were followed properly.
If investigators find that the force used was unjustified or excessive under the circumstances, the shooting could give rise to civil-rights or wrongful-death claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
Seeking Accountability for Officer-Involved Shootings
If you witnessed this incident, were in the area, or are seeking to understand your rights after a police use-of-force event:
1. Request Public Records
You may request:
- The full incident report and arrest record
- Officer statements and communications
- Body-worn-camera or patrol-vehicle dash-cam footage
- Dispatch and 911 logs
- Forensic and evidence documentation
- Any recovered weapon or related evidence
- Medical and hospital records related to the shooting
2. Preserve Any Evidence You Have
Document your exact time, location, what you saw or heard, and your vantage point. Save any photos or videos you captured — including audio — and note relevant environmental details (lighting, proximity, bystanders).
3. Consult With a Civil-Rights Attorney
If you believe that the force used was unreasonable, department protocols violated, or constitutional rights infringed, legal options may be available.
If you or a loved one has been impacted by an officer-involved shooting such as this one involving Luis Francisco-Marzo, contact The Sehat Law Firm at (949) 825-5200 for a free consultation, or complete the form at the bottom of this page to discuss your case with our team.
Legal Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and should not be considered legal or medical advice, nor does it create an attorney-client relationship. Laws vary, and any referenced here may not apply to your situation. This article was created from secondary sources and may not be completely accurate. If you have any concerns, please contact us, and we’ll update or remove the post as needed.
