A security guard who allegedly shot and killed a young man at a San Francisco Walgreens store last week won’t face charges related to the case, according to prosecutors.
Police had arrested the 33-year-old guard after the shooting, at 6:33 p.m. Thursday near Market and Fourth streets. Banko Brown, 24, was found on the sidewalk and was taken to a hospital, where he died of his injuries.
On Monday, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said evidence reviewed by her office “clearly shows that the suspect believed he was in mortal danger and acted in self-defense.”
“We reviewed witness statements, statements from the suspect, and video footage of the incident, and it does not meet the People’s burden to be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt to a jury that the suspect is guilty of a crime,” Jenkins said in an emailed statement Monday night.
The police have not released any details of the encounter other than to say it apparently involved a theft. The guard worked for a private security company.
On Monday, activists from the Young Women’s Freedom Center gathered outside the Walgreens to call for justice for Brown and to highlight several issues facing the city’s Black and trans residents. Brown worked as an organizer for the group.
YWFC co-executive director Julia Arroyo said Tuesday she isn’t surprised by Jenkins’ decision not to take the case to trial and said putting the guard behind bars isn’t the answer.
“He is no more culpable than Walgreens and the city itself. But we are deeply disappointed at the total lack of accountability,” Arroyo said. “It should go without saying that Banko should still be alive. Being poor should not be a crime and, certainly, should not be a cause for murder.”
Allowing armed guards at stores will just “result in much more tragedy,” she said.
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Source: www.mercurynews.com