A California man was fatally stabbed in broad daylight while walking with his 8-year-old son, shortly after picking him up from school, according to police reports. The incident, described as “horrific” by San Francisco Police Department interim Chief Paul Yep, occurred in a crosswalk following an altercation with the suspect.
Robert Byrd II had just collected his son from Commodore Sloat Elementary School in San Francisco when he was attacked during a dispute with another man. Witnesses reported hearing an exchange of words before the assailant stabbed Byrd and fled the scene, according to San Francisco District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar.
The police have yet to disclose the name or motive of the suspect, who was reportedly in custody over the weekend. The suspect is believed to be a local resident. Investigators employed automated license plate readers, surveillance cameras, a drone, and eyewitness accounts to locate and apprehend the individual.
San Francisco Police Department official Thomas Maguire praised the tireless efforts of the officers involved in the investigation. “Many of our officers haven’t slept in a couple days,” he said. “They worked around the clock. With community cooperation and with utilizations of technology and a major deployment of our police personnel, we were able to follow leads that led us to Tuolumne County, and we made a safe arrest.”
The community has been deeply affected by Byrd’s death, particularly parents and students of the San Francisco Unified School District. Superintendent Maria Su described the incident as a “horrific, horrific tragedy” that the district had “never experienced at this level” before.
Local resident Trish Lethin expressed her sorrow over the incident, stating, “A kid shouldn’t lose his father. But then to have to see him die or be with him when he is dying, that is not okay.”
Teresa Agustin, a parent at Commodore, remembered Byrd as a devoted father who was always early to pick up his son from school. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched by the school’s Parent Club Organization to support Byrd’s family. The campaign describes Byrd as a loving father whose “greatest love was his son, who was holding his hand in the moments before this tragedy occurred.”
Local prosecutors are currently reviewing the evidence to determine the appropriate charges for Byrd’s alleged killer. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins stated that her office will announce charges in the coming days, asking for patience as they continue to collect and review evidence and conduct witness interviews.