San Bruno Cop Foiled Gang Shooting on Saturday

Updated May 31 at 9:34 a.m.

The San Mateo County Times has reported that a San Bruno police officer who was involved in an early morning chase after three men Saturday foiled a gang shooting.

According to the Times, Daniel Garcia, 23, of San Bruno, Michael Apolinario, 25, of Pacifica and Diego Bernal, 18, of San Bruno, are all documented gang members who were in the neighborhood to kill a rival gang member. Garcia and Apolinario were recently released from state prison.

Police said an officer tried to stop the car they were riding in, which was stolen, on Third Avenue near Belle Air Elementary School after hearing about a confrontation in the area. The men then apparently jumped out of the car and fled on foot.

When the officer chased one of the suspects, now believed to be Garcia, he turned and fired a handgun twice at the officer. The officer was unharmed. All three suspects were arrested later on Saturday.

A gun belonging to Garcia was found on Sunday in a backyard by a 9-year-old boy playing with his sister, the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office said. The boy thought it was a toy and brought the gun to his mother and asked if he could play with it.

They appeared in San Mateo County Superior Court on Wednesday on charges that include attempted murder, a gang member committing a felony, assault on a police officer with a gun and car theft, according to the Times. They are expected to return to court June 6 to enter pleas.

If convicted, all three men could face life in prison.

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