By John Ferrannini

An organizer of a GoFundMe for the family of a Richmond neighborhood shopkeeper who was killed in August is grateful that the man San Francisco police allege committed the crime has been arrested.

“S.F. is still in a tough place and we have a long way to go to rebuild the confidence we used to have in this city,” Tom Imrey said. “A lot more needs to be done to restore this city to the level of safety the citizens expect.”

Yohannes “John” Tewolde, 60, was a store clerk at the Richmond Market at the intersection of Balboa Street and 41st Avenue. On Aug. 24, a suspect took Tewolde’s baseball bat, struck him and fled the scene after a confrontation, according to police. The suspect threw the bat at a second victim, who was not injured. Tewolde’s death was announced by his family on Aug. 29.

After an investigation by the homicide division, police determined that Santos De La Rosa, 21, of Hollister was the assailant and an arrest warrant was issued Sept. 12.

“The criminal complaint filed by the district attorney’s office alleges that Mr. De La Rosa attacked a shopkeeper, who was trying to prevent him from stealing two cans of beer, with a bat,” the SF district attorney’s office stated in a press release. “After the beating, the complaint further alleges, Mr. De La Rosa retrieved one of the beers he had tried to steal previously, throws the bat at a second victim who was present in the store and then runs into the passenger side of a waiting vehicle that departs westbound on Balboa Street.”

De La Rosa’s arrest was announced Oct. 5. He has been charged with murder, second-degree robbery and assault with a deadly weapon.

De La Rosa was booked Oct. 4 just after 3 p.m., according to SF Sheriff Department records. 

According to Randy Quezada, a spokesperson with the office of District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, De La Rosa was initially going to be arraigned Oct. 6 but this was continued to Oct. 25. He remains in custody, Quezada said.

“I would like to thank the San Francisco Police Department’s homicide division for their outstanding work to identify and apprehend, Mr. De La Rosa,” District Attorney Brooke Jenkins stated. “I would also like to thank the family and friends of the victim for their patience and trust in the system. Previously, I offered my condolences, and now I offer my office’s unwavering commitment to fighting for justice in the courtroom.”

If convicted, De La Rosa faces up to life imprisonment.

Imrey’s GoFundMe (https://www.gofundme.com/f/outer-richmond-community) site has raised $100,000 out of a $145,000 goal as of mid-October. 

“The level of support from the community demonstrates how kind John was and how important stores like this are to communities,” Imrey said. “This arrest has raised the level of confidence in the Outer Richmond merchants and the police department. Everyone expects to feel safe in their own community.”