SAN FRANCISCO — Almost seven years after he brutally attacked 88-year-old Yik Oi Huang at a playground in San Francisco, Keonte Gathron was convicted Nov. 4 afternoon of her murder.
”This has been a long time coming,” Sasanna Yee, Huang’s granddaughter, said in a statement forwarded to American Community Media after the verdict was delivered. “I’m really grateful to the community for caring about this case. It is a huge relief to my family.”
Yee noted there had been many delays before the case came to trial. “It took a huge toll on my family every time we heard there was another delay.”
32 Counts
Gathron, who was 17 at the time he attacked Huang, was on a crime spree, according to prosecutors. Over a period of 13 days, he robbed 7 people, including 6 Asian Americans, three of whom were children. In Huang’s case, Gathron was found guilty of 1st degree murder, during the commission of a robbery and burglary.
Gathron was also found guilty by a jury of 8 counts of robbery, 1 count of kidnapping for robbery, two counts each of carjacking and burglary, as well as both child abuse and elder abuse.
Hate crime charges were never added to Gathron’s case. He was booked Jan. 20, 2019, and has remained in jail since. Gathron’s sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 25; he faces life in prison.
‘Evidence Manipulated’
Choosing to represent himself during the trial that lasted almost a month, Gathron claimed that surveillance videos showing him committing one of the crimes he was charged with was manipulated by artificial intelligence. “I don’t want you all to be deceived,” he told jurors.
In a Nov. 5 press statement, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said Gathron had targeted his victims for the purposes of financial gain. “Each victim was selected because they were alone, distracted and small. In that way, Mr. Gathron’s actions had outsize impact on our whole City.”
“Mr. Gathron is now being held accountable for his crimes that terrorized so many in our community. My office is committed to fighting for justice in every case for as long as it takes.”
Surviving Victims Testify
Assistant District Attorney Nathan Quigley, who prosecuted the case, said the surviving victims were brave in testifying during the trial. He noted that several spoke little to no English.
“It was inspiring to see them each stand up for themselves and each other: to ensure that this man who has already taken so much from so many members of our community will never harm anyone again,” said Quigley.
”I’m remembering my grandmother’s spirit today. She would walk in the park early morning every day. People would tell her, ‘don’t do that.’ But she was the kind of person that would walk her own path. She had courage and bravery. She’s giving me the courage to speak now,” said Yee.
Peace and Friendship Park
”When the verdict was read, I was immediately in tears,” said the yoga and QiQong instructor, who has fought tirelessly to bring justice for her grandmother. She and the late community activist Ronald Colthirst brought to fruition the Yik Oi Huang Peace and Friendship Park at the same place Huang was fatally attacked by Gathron on Jan. 8, 2019. Huang died a year later.
“My priority for me is how to create a safe park, and to bring more resources to not just the park, but an underserved neighborhood. If my grandmother was alive today, she would be really proud to see such a thriving park, and of course she would use it. But it’s really unfortunate that she couldn’t walk out and feel safe. She felt safe, but she didn’t come back and it should not have happened,” said Yee.
Yee Describes Attack
At a Feb. 25, 2022 ACoM news briefing, Yee described in detail the attack on her grandmother. “My grandmother’s brain was bashed, she fell on her face with her broken ribs. She was in very bad condition.”
“What happened to this young man that caused him to do such a thing? He must be in so much pain. I know because when I’m in pain, I also hurt people.”
“Black Lives Matter was such a powerful rallying slogan. What is it for Asians? My team and I came up with ‘Asians belong.’ This phrase is affirming. This phrase acknowledges that we have been seen as perpetual foreigners but no longer. We are reclaiming our stories and our voice,” said Yee.
