Gunman steals cameras from 2 S.F. news crews

SAN FRANCISCO — A gunman stole TV cameras from two San Francisco news crews during live broadcasts Thursday morning on the downtown waterfront and pistol-whipped one photographer before fleeing in a black BMW.

The attack happened about 6 a.m. PT as crews were reporting on the slaying of a woman at Pier 14 along the Embarcadero, which features postcard views of the Bay Bridge and Treasure Island.

As a KTVU reporter prepared to report on the Wednesday evening shooting death of the 33-year-old woman, the robber approached the cameraman for rival KNTV off-camera, put a gun to his head and knocked him down, according to media reports. He then struck him before stealing his camera gear.

After stashing the camera in the car, the robber again struck the KNTV photographer, Alan Waples, who was working with reporter Kris Sanchez. He was not seriously hurt.

"I thought he was going to kill Alan," Sanchez told the San Francisco Chronicle.

At gunpoint, the robber then took the camera gear from KTVU photographer Keith Crook and reporter Cara Liu before jumping in the getaway car, which was driven by a second suspect.

Crook and Liu have been victims in previous attacks news crews, which have increased in the past few years.

In its report of the robbery, KNTV, an NBC affiliate, did not name its crew or the reporter and photographer for KTVU, which is affiliated with Fox.

Two other news crews, from independent KRON and ABC-affiliate KGO-TV, were not robbed.

Later Thursday, police announced that 45-year-old Francisco Sanchez of Texas had been arrested in the Wednesday evening killing of Kathryn Steinle, who worked for Medtronic. Police said the shooting, in broad daylight, appeared to be a random act of violence.