The man shot outside Palo Alto City Hall at 1:45 a.m. Sunday has been tentatively identified as Philip Andrew Lacy, 27, of Millbrae. Police declined to confirm or deny that identity.
He reportedly remains on a life-support respirator at Stanford Hospital while police are focusing today on piecing together what happened.
"We don't know if it was completely random or if something happened earlier that night," Police Agent Dan Ryan said.
The victim and several friends were standing by parked cars in the 600 block of Bryant Street after spending the evening at downtown bars. Lacy was reportedly standing beside a brown Lexus parked beside the City Hall between the entrance to the parking garage and Hamilton Avenue. He was apparently a passenger, waiting for another friend.
A Pacific Islander man, believed to be about 21 and wearing a black beanie, black gloves and black hooded sweatshirt, approached the victim and robbed him of some personal items, including a valuable gold neck chain.
According to one report, the assailant initially turned and started to walk away, but turned back and shot Lacy in the forehead. Ryan said he didn't know at what point the assailant pulled out a gun or whether it was before or after the robbery.
"His friends were pretty hysterical that night," Ryan said. "We're going to re-interview them today."
Ryan said police may bring a sketch artist to the interviews to see if they can develop a likeness.
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Comments
Stanford
on Jul 14, 2008 at 5:08 pm
on Jul 14, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Wow. This is such a shame. No words. Hope they take this guy off the street.
Old Palo Alto
on Jul 14, 2008 at 8:40 pm
on Jul 14, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Find the right guy, try him, convict him, line up against a wall and do to him what he did to that poor man. Then bill his parents for the bullet and brand them on the forehead with the words: "I raised a murderer". Then, maybe we will start to see accountability and a better behaved society.
Duveneck/St. Francis
on Jul 14, 2008 at 11:50 pm
on Jul 14, 2008 at 11:50 pm
Unfortunately, I think this sort of thing is going to become more common and not less given where the economy's going. I don't go PA bar hopping any more, but can't recall the last time I saw PA police walking/cruising the streets to make themselves visible. Mr Sheriff, we need you!
Midtown
on Jul 15, 2008 at 1:31 am
on Jul 15, 2008 at 1:31 am
I can't believe that scum like this exists!! I really hope they catch this evildoer. We really do need to up the patrols all over PA. Doesn't it seem to go in waves??....I guess when rent is due in a few weeks the criminals come out to get their rent money. Get a job you losers. I hope and pray that Mr. Lacy pulls through this.
another community
on Jul 15, 2008 at 2:50 am
on Jul 15, 2008 at 2:50 am
My prayers go out to Phil and his family.
Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
on Jul 15, 2008 at 5:31 am
on Jul 15, 2008 at 5:31 am
Hey Garland Guy,
When was the last time you went bar hopping in Downtown PA in the 1950's. You might want to take a walk sometime this weekend. I saw a fight break out minutes before the victim was shot and seven patrol cars showed up within seconds out of nowhere. The police are everywhere downtown every night especially on the weekends. You live in one of the safest neighborhoods in America and all you can do is complain about the police because you don't have enough problems. You need to live in east oakland for a week and you'll hug every Palo Alto cop you see.
another community
on Jul 15, 2008 at 7:01 am
on Jul 15, 2008 at 7:01 am
Get real, Palo Alto PD groups. 7 cars for a fight, 7 cars for a riot maybe. The a whole bunch of police officers standing around.
Maybe if some of those 7 police cars. STAYED in SERVICE. The person who had no regaurd for another humans life. Might have seen a POLICE CAR or OFFICER at the station. This was at City Hall on the steps to the police station.
Thinking if the gun person saw a PD cruiser or Officer close by .He might not have been so daring as to shoot this PERSON.
I also feel that most crimanals know PAPD are not going to catch anyone. Just a older lady and her friends trying to help children grow in a more rounded way. They will catch her?
Green Acres
on Jul 15, 2008 at 8:13 am
on Jul 15, 2008 at 8:13 am
Phil hang in there. It is hard to understand you guys are arguing over wether the police are doing their jobs or not. Obviously this could have been prevented in many different ways. The issue right now is if Phil will pull through this or if we will find the shooter. The other issue is when will our children learn to grow up and if there parents can focus more time in raising their children. The drugs, gangs, etc are coming from walks of life. The rich, poor, and in between. Phil you are being thought of every second of every day. Mills High School. 1999
another community
on Jul 15, 2008 at 8:18 am
on Jul 15, 2008 at 8:18 am
Classmate Phil is one more person the City of Palo Alto has injuried or had a hand in causeing heartship too.
another community
on Jul 15, 2008 at 8:42 am
on Jul 15, 2008 at 8:42 am
I live across the street from another 27 year old Millbrae man's murder scene (from last Wednesday early morning). I wonder if they knew each other or were in any way connected. I hope the police are looking into it.
another community
on Jul 15, 2008 at 9:00 am
on Jul 15, 2008 at 9:00 am
I can't believe this happened. I'm so sorry Phil. We will find him...
another community
on Jul 15, 2008 at 10:19 am
on Jul 15, 2008 at 10:19 am
rest in paradise phil. gone but never forgotten. we will catch this lil bastard. we love you. xoxo
Greenmeadow
on Jul 15, 2008 at 10:25 am
on Jul 15, 2008 at 10:25 am
[Comment removed by Palo Alto Online staff].
another community
on Jul 15, 2008 at 11:08 am
on Jul 15, 2008 at 11:08 am
[Comment removed by Palo Alto Online staff].
another community
on Jul 15, 2008 at 11:59 am
on Jul 15, 2008 at 11:59 am
Go New York Giants.. Super Bowl Champs... Phils favorite team.
another community
on Jul 15, 2008 at 12:40 pm
on Jul 15, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Phil was always a good, solid, trustworthy induvidual with his entire life ahead of him. I had the pleasure to know Phil for over 10 years and he was taken way too soon from this earth. May you rest in peace now, in a much better place, reunited with your beloved Mom and Dad...you will be missed...
Charleston Gardens
on Jul 15, 2008 at 12:53 pm
on Jul 15, 2008 at 12:53 pm
remember ,innocent people are thrown in jail because theyre not white,some tortured
Menlo Park
on Jul 15, 2008 at 12:59 pm
on Jul 15, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Ahh m2....
"innocent people are thrown in jail because theyre not white"
keep listening to Rev Jesse Jackson, he has been correct all along....
another community
on Jul 15, 2008 at 1:27 pm
on Jul 15, 2008 at 1:27 pm
"Phil is on life support". So his organs can give life to others. He cared about people he will never know.
This makes a REAL statement to what type of person he is. Is, not was. He will be remembered and missed. His friends show this.
RIP, Mr Lacey.
Maybe The City of Palo Alto might find real,true justice fo you and your loved ones.
Not the random justice that seems to run this City. Or that this City feels works for the City Employee's or the Citizens.
Greene Middle School
on Jul 15, 2008 at 1:57 pm
on Jul 15, 2008 at 1:57 pm
How fast does something like this happen? 1 minute? How can people expect cops to be everywhere at every second? Go the the PA Police website and see that they are seeking officers for employment. They are trying to hire more officers. But the candidates need a certain level of requirements or else the Palo Altans will complain that the police are not polite, not intelligent, too reckless, and a host of other insults. It takes a certain mentality to become a policeman and they have to put up with a lot of crap. I know of someone who was a Paly graduate and quit being a PA policeman because Palo Altans were too condescending and rude and expected too much. Every Palo Alto officer I have met has been very respectful and polite. Personally, I would rather have more policemen in our city, even if they are a bit lower quality (i.e. I don't care if they are rude, as long as they are doing their job well and there to help me when I need it). But Palo Altans would disagree. They want it all.
Crescent Park
on Jul 15, 2008 at 3:04 pm
on Jul 15, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Fireman, you are correct!! The bad guys already know that if a PA cop chases them, they can just floor it because PA will call off the pursuit. Word travels fast!
Midtown
on Jul 15, 2008 at 3:09 pm
on Jul 15, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Where do you want the police to patrol - downtown or the neighborhoods? As to chases - many, many in the public don't want the cops chasing folks around town at over 45 mph becauise it endangers the public who are in danger because the police don't catch the people they can't chase.
I understand that - I'm under psychiatric care, how about you?
Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
on Jul 15, 2008 at 5:07 pm
on Jul 15, 2008 at 5:07 pm
hey fireman
your a classic example of ignorance. the seven officers i saw that responded to the fight came from different directions. two stayed to deal with the drunk morons and the rest left to babysit the remaining several hundred other drunk idiots that invade downtown palo alto every weekend. this young man died for a necklace and the only thing you can gripe about is the stupid children's theater investigation? like it or not we live in a city where the median price of a house (even in this economic slump) is $800,000 maybe more. the reason is because this is a safe city. this could have happened anywhere even if we had 100 cops working downtown that evening. that animal would have shot someone else because he obviously did not care. do you think he said to himself "gee i'm gonna kill an innocent person next to the police station because palo alto cops will let me get away with it if i ran anyway". NO! he probably didn't even know he was next to the damn police station. all he cared about was a stupid necklace he can pawn to get his next fix. you should be ashamed of yourself. and if you are a fireman or a wanna be reject fireman then you just embarassed your brotheren that are is the same legue of heroes policemen are in. i hope you never have to deal with the pain of a loved one being killed because of a random act of violence because your the type to blame everyone else but the suspect.
another community
on Jul 15, 2008 at 5:39 pm
on Jul 15, 2008 at 5:39 pm
get real.. How many years did you work for The City of Palo Alto?
So you heard all the Cops complainning about not having anyone to patrol the streets.
All Too many Kiss butts on special desk jobs. Like the Childrens theatre scam.
Maybe he thought he was getting a Palo Alto Resident. They are so well liked and respected. In the Bay Area. Not.
Oh and if 5 cops babysit several hundred drunks every weekend. you might think about getting more cops, before someone gets killed. Would'nt you think. Well not you.
That would take common sense? And so planning.
Oh Sara, I did not say that the PD can not chase. That is the rule in some places and a good rule. Most of the time.
They just know they are never around when you need them. And most only beat up old men or cop a feel on the women suspects.
As with the FIRE DEPARTMENT, look who leads them. How good could the best officer do in Palo Alto.
Not very well, so they leave and go else where. Then HR who has to cover up there action and the leaders actions. BS the report and say, Oh they left for traffic reasons? The commute? yea right!
University South
on Jul 15, 2008 at 6:12 pm
on Jul 15, 2008 at 6:12 pm
To Fireman,
You said- "Maybe he thought he was getting a Palo Alto Resident".
You are a very sick person who needs help.
Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
on Jul 15, 2008 at 6:28 pm
on Jul 15, 2008 at 6:28 pm
fireman,
i agree with joel. judging from the way u write your responses you are clearly not the smartest person on earth and probably crazy. i guess english is a second language for you. you are CLEARLY IGNORANT if you think a death of a young man is comparable to a thief who stole money from the children's theater who suppposedly wants to enlighten kids. get a clue! why dont you call the children's theater when your house is on fire or when someone shoots a person you love. i'm sure the palo alto police and fire couldn't possibly be trusted to help you since they are so imcompetent. and another thing, i dont know what country youre from but in this country we just dont pin a badge on any moron who wants to be a police officer. its not that easy to just hire more police officers because you said so.
another community
on Jul 16, 2008 at 11:47 am
on Jul 16, 2008 at 11:47 am
Phil, we will always miss you. Mine and all of San Bruno and millbrae's hearts will be with you. You didn't deserve this.
When Dallas and NYG play this year, i'll be rooting for a new team.
Love you brother. You may be gone from this life, but never forgotten.
See you again... one day...
University South
on Jul 16, 2008 at 4:45 pm
on Jul 16, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Was the shooting at the same time as the fight? I was at blue chalk until about 1:20 and saw the fight a few minutes later... the police cars were there within 30 seconds. Why weren't the police able to get to the shooting faster?
another community
on Jul 21, 2008 at 10:00 pm
on Jul 21, 2008 at 10:00 pm
after sitting here and randomly reading what outsiders have to say about such an unfortunate situation is sickening. friends of phil's can't get this crazy loss out of our heads and are constantly looking places for answers and updates and have to stumble across something as dumb as a bunch of strangers talking crap about stuff they don't know. phil was an amazing person that any of you would have been lucky to have really known or even met for 5 minutes. He was a son, a brother, an uncle, a friend who no matter what did not deserve what happened to him. i please ask for this to be a place to reflect on what has happened...not to be a disrespectful scenerio of something a stranger is creating of why it did. r.i.p. phil i love you so very much :::::::vf
another community
on Jan 8, 2009 at 2:45 pm
on Jan 8, 2009 at 2:45 pm
RIP phil lacey you touched many peoples hearts! Everyone loves you and misses you! Your in a better place now reunited with your family! xoxo c yah when i get there
Charleston Gardens
on Jul 13, 2011 at 10:24 pm
on Jul 13, 2011 at 10:24 pm
To bad they didn't put in the paper that Phil was a cocaine dealer. I guess he got what he deserves for putting that garbage on our streets.
Registered user
East Palo Alto
on Jul 14, 2011 at 4:01 pm
Registered user
on Jul 14, 2011 at 4:01 pm
JBB, do you have more info that you can share?