Crime & Safety
Pacific Woman Killed By Police ID'd
The woman had shot her adult son and the family dog before she was confronted by officers, police report.
PACIFICA, CA — Pacifica police on Thursday identified a woman fatally shot by two officers after she allegedly shot and injured her adult son at an apartment complex last week.
Michelle Arrais, 50, died after being shot by officers who responded shortly before 8 a.m. on March 27 to 2562 Francisco Blvd., where a man reported being shot by his mother.
Two officers, identified by police as Cpl. Hayden Fry and Officer Kevin Contreras, arrived at the complex and when they saw Arrais driving out, they commanded her to stop. Instead, she allegedly pointed a firearm at both officers, who then fired their service weapons at her, according to police.
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Arrais died at the scene, while her son was found hiding inside a locked bathroom and was treated for his gunshot wounds, which are not considered life-threatening.
Inside the apartment, officers discovered the family dog fatally shot, also allegedly by Arrais. A search of her vehicle revealed a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun and four boxes of ammunition, police said.
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Pacifica police released a video of the shooting of Arrais by the officers, who are on paid administrative leave. Fry has been with the department for eight years, while Contreras joined in 2023 after about six years of prior law enforcement experience.
The shooting is being investigated by the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office as well as being subject to an internal investigation by Pacifica police, as is standard protocol.
Pacifica Police Chief Maria Sarasua said in a statement, "It is always tragic when law enforcement intervenes with deadly force, regardless of the circumstances. It impacts the family involved in the incident, our community, and the members of our police department. As police chief, I am committed to ensuring that all involved are treated with care and compassion while ensuring a full and thorough investigation into what occurred."
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