SF Police Search for Man Who Shot Blanks in Synagogue, Flashed Gun in Theater

Police are trying to find a gunman suspected of firing blanks in a San Francisco synagogue after brandishing the same weapon in a nearby theater.

Officers fielded a call Thursday morning about threats made the night before at a Balboa Street synagogue, according to the San Francisco Police Department. 

Police say the caller told them that a man walked into the building around 7:20 p.m. Wednesday and said something to the people gathered inside before firing several shots in the air. 

Then the man left, police said. No one was hurt.

SFPD say they believe the same man was involved in a similar incident reported a day earlier just down the street.

In that case, officers responded around 8 p.m. Tuesday to reports of a person who flashed a gun in a theater. An employee said the man was perusing merchandise when he brandished the weapon—and fled from there, too, according to SFPD.

Descriptions of the man’s appearance led police to believe the same person was involved in both cases. SFPD is now asking the public to help find him.