Kenneth Harding Had Gunshot Residue on His Hand, Police Say

By Erin Sherbert Tue., Jul. 19 2011 at 4:15 PM

Kenneth Harding

More evidence emerged today that police say confirms 19-year-old Kenneth Harding had been firing his gun at the cops before officers shot and killed him Saturday afternoon.

Police say that gunshot residue was found on Harding's right hand, which supports witness statements that Harding had held the gun in his right hand and fired at police over his shoulder while running away from them.

According to police:

The presence of GSR [gunshot residue] on an individual's hand indicates that either the individual fired a gun, the individual was in close proximity to a gun as it was discharged or that the individual touched a gun or other object with GSR on its surface and particles were transferred to his or her hands.

No gunshot residue was located on Harding's left hand, police said.

"He was shooting indiscriminately, more than one time," Police Chief Greg Suhr a told reporters after the shooting this week. "He fired at them, they fired back. That is what officers are going to do. If you fire at the police, they are going to shoot back."

Harding, a parolee who was a person of interest in a Seattle homicide last week, was on the Third Street light rail platform when officers conducted a quick fare inspection. Police say Harding ran away from them and then started firing shot as he ran toward Mendell Plaza. Officers began shooting back; there were 10 shots fired in six seconds.

Harding died at San Francisco General Hospital.

The pistol Harding had used was mysteriously removed from the scene. However, police later located it at another parolee's home.

Meanwhile, tension has been growing in the Bayview community, where residents have said the shooting was racially motivated. Suhr is hosting a town hall meeting tomorrow evening at the Bayview Opera House at 6.

Follow us on Twitter at @TheSnitchSF and @SFWeekly.

Tags:

Bayview, Bayview Opera House, Kenneth Harding, Muni fare, Police Chief Greg Suhr, Seattle homicide, SFPD

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unknown

i love it how these people are so quick to immediately jump to the conclusion that this incident was racially motivated. it was violence-motivated and the police fired because of the threat of death by the perpetrator's pistol,a .45 ACP pistol no less. yeah,i'd fire back too! the gun was removed by either a friend,or some passerby. when the whole thing went down,this guy (Harding),was firing upon the police and anyone else who was in the path of the errant .45 calibre projectiles,and left the police with little options as to how to neutralize the subject.saying, "oh well the cops should have shot him in the legs..",well that's just moronic. if someones' shooting at you,and you too,have a loaded,uncocked weapon in your hand,believe me,the legs are the last place you will aim for.cops shoot to kill,and few ever discharge their firearms at suspects in their entire careers. these are statistical facts.when Harding was dropped by the cops,remember he was running forward,firing backwards,and when he was shot-the impact from the bullets(fired by SFPD);caused him to release his grasp on his firearm;causing it to fly "AWAY" from the crime scene,maybe as much as 15-20 feet away!

Kendrastepphans

To the family of Harding sue no matter what he was shot in the back meaning he did not pose a threat where are the bullet holes shots fired from this mysterious gun that was later found at a parolee house guns dont talk or have gps how in the world could they have found the gun unless it was planted there fight for him the money will not bring him back but the police wont be to quick to pull the trigger if it cost the city millions of dollars but they will strike again because your son,brother,cousin,nephew, and uncle life was only worth $2.00 Trust in the Lord May God be with your family

mcg

Did you miss the part about him shooting backwards toward the cops and the residue on his hand to prove it? Dont shoot at cops. Pretty easy lesson.

Anthony Nelson

How the fuck did a gun mysteriously disappear.. when theirs 5 trained police officers all watching this go down? How is that possible? Isnt that what they were "protecting themselves" from.. BayView Police are just shook of that neighborhood and will kill anyone that scares them (black males).

Joe Black

What...are you new to the hood? That happens all the time. Friendlies will pick up evidence all the time to "help a brotha out." Come on...don't be ignorant