SAN FRANCISCO, California — As a packed courtroom filled with supporters of the late Chinese grandmother Yik Oi Huang looked on, Keonte Gathron, charged with her murder, continued to plead his innocence at his sentencing Nov. 25.
Gathron was convicted by a jury Nov. 4 of 25 counts of 1st degree robbery, burglary, child endangerment, elder abuse, kidnapping, carjacking, and armed assault, along with Huang’s murder in 2019, at a park in Visitacion Valley, San Francisco. The other convictions stemmed from a crime spree in 2019, in which Gathron attacked six elderly Asian Americans and 3 children.
During the month-long trial last October, the suspect represented himself.
Yik Oi Huang, a seamstress and nanny, was 88 at the time of her death, a year after she was attacked by Gathron. Huang was practicing Tai Chi early morning Jan. 8, 2019, when Gathron beat her and left her bleeding from her head. She spent a year in rehabilitation before passing.
Judge Announces Sentence
Though he did not formally sentence Gathron Nov. 25, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Eric Fleming announced Gathron’s likely sentence: 31 years in prison, followed by 2 consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole.
Appearing in shackles for his sentencing, Gathron urged Fleming for more time before he finalized the sentence. The convicted man said he had requested trial transcripts which would allow him to file a notice of appeal, but had not received them. Fleming countered, saying Gathron did not need trial transcripts to file his motion. Gathron fought back: “If I get sentenced today, my rights will be violated, because I have no way to appeal. This is my life. I’m the one found guilty.”
Fleming initially denied Gathron’s plea to delay sentencing. But the convicted felon then fought back again, saying he had not received a copy of the pre-sentencing report. Fleming then ordered a copy of the report to be handed to Gathron, and gave him until Dec. 3, at which time he must reappear in court for sentencing. Fleming noted that the sentence he read out today would be what Gathron receives Dec. 3.
Emotional Plea
The convicted felon listened intently as 4 supporters of Huang read out victim impact statements discussing the brutal death of a woman beloved by her family. “I understand the pain; I have endured a lot of pain myself,” said Gathron, weeping as he spoke. “I can relate to the pain, the loss, the suffering; I’ve had to live with that my entire life.”
”But I didn’t do this. I am innocent,” he said, noting that he has a photo of Huang smiling in his cell. “She was a beautiful lady. But I did not kill her.”
”God has a way of using bad and tragic things to bring beauty. Hopefully, everyone can heal together and put this behind us,” said Gathron.
Gathron has remained in San Francisco County Jail since his arrest Jan. 20, 2019. He is being held without bail.
Victims Speak
In their victim impact statements, several family members said they would never forgive Gathron for killing Yik Oi Huang. Jenny Huang, the oldest daughter of Yik Oi, told the court her mother was “the emotional center of our family. Even now, when we think of her, grief overwhelms us. This pain will never fade away.”
”This is not only the loss of a life, but the shattering of a family,” said Jenny Huang.
Helen Yee, Yik Oi’s 3rd daughter told the court that family had warned the victim not to practice Tai Chi every morning at the park, noting it was dangerous. “My mother said she always felt safe there,” said Helen Yee.
”Whenever I think of my mother, I am filled with grief. My journey for justice has never been stronger,” said Helen Yee.
Redemption
Though several family members said they could never forgive Gathron, Sasanna Yee, Yik Oi’s grand daughter, asked Judge Fleming to take a path towards redemption in deliberating his sentence. “I have been trying to make sense of it all these years. All I can come up with is that when this young man was a kid, he did not receive the support he needed.”
”There are systemic and structural failings that contributed to a teenager causing such harm towards others,” said Sasanna Yee, who has spent years advocating for her grandmother and spearheaded an initiative to rename the park at which she was killed to the “Yik Oi Huang Peace and Friendship Park.”
”I ask that whatever sentence is given reflects the seriousness of the harm, but also has within it the seeds for healing: for the defendant, for our community, and for all who are watching.”
”My ultimate wish is for healing,” said Sasanna Yee.
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