Menlo Park Shooting: Officer Kills Burglary Suspect In Affluent Neighborhood

A Menlo Park shooting left a burglary suspect dead after police say he pulled a gun on them.

The shooting took place on Tuesday afternoon after police received a report of the suspicious person on Willow Place, a cul-de-sac in a well-to-do neighborhood that includes venture capital companies and high-tech startups.

Officers arrived to find a male suspect who they believed was involved in a burglary. The man ran away, and after an officer used a Taser to stop the fleeing suspect, police say the man pulled a gun.

Police then opened fire on the suspect, killing the man.

The suspect was later identified as 52-year-old Jerry Lee Matheny.

As the Almanac News noted, the Menlo Park shooting suspect had a long history with police:

“Mr. Matheny, a resident of Nuevo in Riverside County, was reportedly wanted by the state for violating parole, according to law enforcement sources. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation issued a warrant for him on July 22 related to possession of a controlled substance. He remained at large before Nov. 11.”

An area resident said a woman who works at one of the businesses in the area identified Matheny as a man resembling a burglary suspect pictured on a flier distributed by a local landlord.

After the Menlo Park shooting, one officer was taken to the hospital with a injury described as non life-threatening. There was also a large police presence in the area the remainder of the afternoon.

The Menlo Park shooting remains under investigation and the police officers involved have been placed on paid leave during the investigation. Menlo Park police chief Robert Jonsen said video footage from cameras worn by the officers is being given to the local district attorney’s office for review. Police were also asking for anyone who had information about the possibly burglary or who witnessed the incident to contact police.