SAN FRANCISCO—Officials from the San Francisco Police Department have arrested a suspect in connection to an aggravated assault that transpired in Visitacion Valley on January 8. The SFPD reported that at approximately 6:45 a.m., officers responded to a home on the 1000 block of Visitacion Avenue. A witness reported seeing an unknown male suspect exit the residence from an interior staircase and later walking eastbound on Visitacion Avenue.
An 88 year-old female suffering from severe head injuries was found in a park across the street. The investigation led to evidence linking the subject leaving the home to the assault. The victim was taken to the hospital and is still recovering from life-threatening injuries.
Evidence led to the identification of a suspect, Keonte Gathron, 18. He was identified as a suspect in a carjacking which occurred in the early morning hours of January 16, on the 1600 block of Visitacion Avenue. The carjacked vehicle was found abandoned at gas station on San Bruno Avenue. Video evidence obtained at the scene led to the identification of Gathron as the carjacking suspect.
On Saturday, January 19 at approximately 4:45 p.m., a 14 year-old girl was approached on the 1000 block of Woolsey Avenue by a Gathron on a red bicycle and robbed of her cell phone at gunpoint. At approximately 6:00 p.m., a 17 year-old girl was approached at Charles Avenue and Belle Avenue in the Taraval District by Gathron who was on a red bicycle. He punched the girl in the face and stole her phone.
Responding officers from Ingleside Station were able to track the cell phone to the Sunnydale district of San Francisco. During a search, officers made contact with Gathron, whose clothing matched the description of the robbery suspect. After a short foot pursuit and search, officers located Gathron hiding in a vehicle and placed him under arrest.
“San Francisco Police Department investigators worked tirelessly to identify a suspect in this case,” said San Francisco Police Chief William Scott. “This is an ongoing investigation and we will have further details to follow later in the week. But we want to express our gratitude to neighbors and leaders in the Visitacion Valley community who worked closely with our investigators to address this act of senseless violence.”
Gathron is charged with the following:
Assault/Burglary Case: Attempted Murder, Kidnapping, Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Elder Abuse, Burglary, Possession of Stolen Property, Attempting to Destroy Evidence.
Robberies: Robbery (2 counts), Child Endangerment, Possession of Stolen Property, and Resisting Arrest.
The SFPD is still investigating the case. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact the San Francisco Police Department at 415-575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD. Tipsters can remain anonymous.
