Keonte Gathron: Suspect found guilty in deadly 2019 San Francisco beating of 88-year-old Yik Oi Huang, DA says
The suspect in the deadly beating of an 88-year-old woman in 2019 was found guilty of murder on Tuesday.
A jury found Keonte Gathron guilty of 25 counts including the death of Yik Oi Huang and other crimes.
San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins told ABC7, "We are pleased to announce Mr. Gathron has been found guilty of numerous counts. Most importantly in the murder of Mrs. Huang, an 88-year-old grandmother who simply out doing her morning exercise. He is now being held accountable, finally, after so many years for this family having to wait to receive justice."
In January 2019, Yik Oi Huang was on her morning walk at a park in Visitacion Valley before Gathron brutally attacked her, and left for the dead at the playground.
Gathron then entered her home across the street before fleeing the area. Gathron was arrested after committing another robbery, police said.
One year later on Jan. 3, 2020 , the family said Huang died from her injuries at Laguna Honda Hospital in San Francisco.
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"She suffered through the massive pain and had been clinging for her life courageously," a GoFundMe account said in 2020.
The multiple counts include crimes Gathron committed against other people.
"Mr. Gathron was facing numerous counts related to multiple incidents," DA Jenkins said. "The most pronounced is the murder of Mrs. Huang," which also includes robbery of her home.
He was also found guilty with robberies and carjackings prior to the deadly beating of Huang, and armed robberies following the incident, as well as six other attacks, in which the victims were also of Asian descent, Jenkins said.
Gathron faces life in prison, and will be sentenced at a later date.
The park Huang was attacked at was renamed after her in June 2024 . It is now called The Yik Oi Huang Peace and Friendship Park. Relatives and community advocates said at the time, they want the name to promote community healing.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.
