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Calif. police kill homicide suspect armed with BB gun

Glen Griggs is suspected in the murder of a female acquaintance who went missing in May; her body has not been found

By Henry Lee
San Francisco Chronicle

SUNNYVALE, Calif. — A homicide suspect shot dead by Sunnyvale police had been armed with a BB gun, authorities said Friday as they identified the three officers who fired their weapons.

Glen Griggs, 53, brandished a long BB gun at officers as they tried to arrest him and search his home Thursday in connection with the killing of a female acquaintance, Molly Franquemont, whose body hasn’t been found, police said.

SWAT Officers Chris Ketchum, a six-year veteran, Mark Jorgensen, a five-year veteran, and Greg Othon, who has 14 years with the force, opened fire when Griggs ignored their demands to drop the weapon, said Capt. Jeff Hunter of the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety.

A fourth officer, 12-year veteran Joel Lockwood, fired a “less lethal” rubber projectile at Griggs, Hunter said.

All four officers are on routine paid leave pending investigations by Sunnyvale police and the Santa Clara County district attorney’s office.
The shooting happened inside Griggs’ home at the corner of North Fair Oaks and East Maude avenues about 9 a.m. Thursday.

Franquemont had lived with Griggs and was 38 years old when she was reported missing in May 2013, police said.

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