San Francisco Police Make Arrest in July 2020 Homicide 21-173
On July 23, 2020, at approximately 2:20 a.m., San Francisco Police officers from Bayview Station responded to the 2100 bock of Jennings Street for a well-being check on an unknown male victim. Officers contacted the male who was lying motionless on the sidewalk. Officers began life-saving efforts and summoned medics to the scene. Despite these efforts, the victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. The victim was later identified as 58-year-old Paul Ortega.
The SFPD Homicide detail took over the investigation. Investigators developed information that identified the suspect as 47-year-old Byron Reed of San Francisco. On September 8, 2021, a warrant was issued for Reed’s arrest for his role in the July 2020 homicide of Paul Ortega.
On Friday, September 10, 2021, at approximately 12:32 p.m., San Francisco Police officers from Bayview Station’s Housing Unit were patrolling the Potrero Hill Neighborhood. The officers were on the unit block of Dakota Street when they observed a subject sitting in a parked vehicle they recognized as Byron Reed. Aware that Reed had a warrant for his arrest, the officers exited their vehicle and approached Reed on foot. Reed started his car and fled the scene. The officers returned to the vehicle and pursued Reed. Reed led the officers on a pursuit on city streets and on the freeway, committing several vehicle code violations in the process. Reed led officers to Interstate-80, across the Bay Bridge, and into Oakland. The pursuit was taken over by an outside law enforcement agency, however, Reed evaded capture.
Later that evening, at approximately 7:36 p.m., several officers from Bayview Station were in the Potrero Hill Neighborhood when they observed Reed’s vehicle driving on the unit block of Dakota Street. Officers approached the vehicle from multiple directions. The driver of the vehicle, later positively identified as Byron Reed, attempted to flee but was unsuccessful and was taken into custody without further incident. While taking Reed into custody officers located, and secured, a firearm on the front passenger seat of Reed’s vehicle.
Reed was later transported to San Francisco County Jail where he was booked on charges of homicide (187(a) PC), second-degree robbery (212.5(c) PC), felon in possession of a firearm (29800(a)(1) PC), carrying a loaded firearm in public (25850(a) PC), carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle (25400(a)(1) PC), reckless driving (23103(a) CVC), felony reckless evading a police officer (2800.2(a) CVC), and driving on a suspended license (14601.1a CVC).
While an arrest has been made this remains an open investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the SFPD Tip Line at 1-415-575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD. You may remain anonymous.