San Francisco Police Make Arrest in Tenderloin Hate Crime 21-073

On Sunday, March 28, 2021, at approximately 9:27 a.m., San Francisco Police officers from Tenderloin Station responded to the 300 block of Golden Gate Avenue for a report of criminal threats. Officers met with a 42-year-old Asian female victim who told them that an unknown suspect entered the business and threatened to shoot Chinese people. The suspect then fled the store on foot. The victim said this was the third day in a row the suspect entered the store and caused a disruption, but due to the nature of the threat, this was the first time she notified police.

On Tuesday, March 30, 2021, at approximately 5:58 a.m., Tenderloin officers responded to the same business on the 300 block of Golden Gate Avenue when they were informed the suspect had returned. Responding officers located the suspect a few blocks away. The suspect, later identified as 45-year-old Darrell Hunter, was taken into custody without incident. Officers met with the victim who told them that Hunter had entered the business, used a hand gesture to mimic a gun, and simulated shooting the occupants of the business. The victim said that Hunter then left the business.

This incident is being investigated by the SFPD Special Investigations Division as a hate crime.

Hunter was later booked at San Francisco County Jail on three counts of criminal threats (422 PC), two counts of burglary (459 PC), stalking (646.9(a) PC), three hate crime enhancements (422.75(a) PC) and probation violation (1203.2(a) PC). Hunter is on active probation for vandalism stemming from a 2018 incident where he entered a business on the 1300 block of Fillmore Street four times in 15 days, yelled racial epithets, and in one incident damaged restaurant furniture.

While an arrest has been made, these remain open investigations. 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.