Suspect Convicted of Murdering 88-Year-Old Woman in SF Attack

UPDATE: In a significant development, a jury has just found Keonte Gathron guilty of murdering Yik Oi Huang, an 88-year-old grandmother, during a brutal attack in San Francisco in January 2019. This verdict, announced on Tuesday, includes a staggering 25 counts related to Huang’s death and various other crimes.

District Attorney Brooke Jenkins expressed relief, stating, “We are pleased to announce Mr. Gathron has been found guilty of numerous counts. Most importantly in the murder of Mrs. Huang, who was simply out doing her morning exercise.” The DA emphasized that justice has finally been served for Huang’s family after years of waiting.

On that fateful morning in Visitacion Valley, Huang was on her routine walk at a local park when she was violently attacked by Gathron. He left her for dead at a playground and subsequently entered her home before fleeing the scene. Authorities reported that Gathron was arrested after committing another robbery shortly thereafter.

Tragically, Huang succumbed to her injuries a year later on January 3, 2020, at Laguna Honda Hospital in San Francisco. A GoFundMe account created for her noted that she endured “massive pain and had been clinging for her life courageously.”

The jury’s verdict extends beyond Huang’s murder. Gathron was also found guilty of robbery and carjacking incidents, with multiple victims of Asian descent. Jenkins highlighted the gravity of Gathron’s criminal history, stating, “Mr. Gathron was facing numerous counts related to multiple incidents.”

Gathron now faces a potential life sentence, with sentencing set for a later date. As a testament to Huang’s legacy, the park where she was attacked was renamed to The Yik Oi Huang Peace and Friendship Park in June 2024, aiming to foster community healing.

This story is developing, and further updates will be provided as they become available. Stay tuned for more details on this urgent case.