UPDATE: In a significant development, a jury has found Keonte Gathron guilty of murdering Yik Oi Huang, an 88-year-old woman, during a brutal attack in San Francisco back in 2019. The verdict was delivered just hours ago, marking a long-awaited moment of justice for Huang’s grieving family.
District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced the verdict, 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. He is now being held accountable after so many years for this family having to wait to receive justice.”
The attack occurred on the morning of January 3, 2019, when Huang was walking in a park located in Visitacion Valley. Gathron viciously assaulted her, leaving her for dead at the playground before entering her nearby home and fleeing the scene. Authorities later apprehended him following another robbery.
Tragically, Huang succumbed to her injuries a year later at Laguna Honda Hospital in San Francisco. A GoFundMe account highlighted her suffering, noting, “She suffered through the massive pain and had been clinging for her life courageously.”
Gathron was convicted on 25 counts, which include multiple crimes against various victims, with the most severe being Huang’s murder. Jenkins confirmed that Gathron was also found guilty of robbery, carjackings, and armed robberies both before and after the attack on Huang, as well as six other assaults targeting victims of Asian descent.
As a result of his convictions, Gathron now faces life in prison, with sentencing scheduled for a later date. The park where Huang was attacked has since been renamed to honor her memory; it is now known as The Yik Oi Huang Peace and Friendship Park. Community advocates and family members hope this renaming will promote healing within the neighborhood.
This story continues to develop, and we will provide updates as more information becomes available. Stay tuned for the latest on this critical case.
