SF parent fatally stabbed with child standing next to him as search for suspect continues

Luz Pena Image
Friday, September 12, 2025
SF parent fatally stabbed with child standing next to him

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- San Francisco police are searching for a suspect who allegedly stabbed a man in front of a child in the city's West Portal neighborhood on Wednesday evening.

Officers responded at 4:38 p.m. to the reported stabbing in the area of Junipero Serra Boulevard and Ocean Avenue. When they arrived, they found a man suffering from a stab wound. He was taken to a hospital but succumbed to his injuries there, police said.

UPDATE: SFPD arrest suspect in fatal stabbing of father in front of child near elementary school

A 911 operator recording captured the influx of calls from bystanders and witnesses who tried to help after a person was stabbed.

"Another caller advises there was a male down on the ground, surrounded by blood," said the recording.

Another 911 operator recording confirmed a child was next to the victim.

"Witness calling it in says the victim had a child with him. Elementary school age. Child is safe and with the bystander," said the recording.

Rachel Rocha is the school director at Alpha Kids Academy, a school near where the incident took place. She said one of her coworkers saw the commotion.

INTERACTIVE: Take a look at the ABC7 Neighborhood Safety Tracker

"She saw the child just standing there very upset. A lot of chaos and people trying to help as much as they could. I think it happened very fast," said Rocha.

People we spoke to say the victim is the parent of an elementary student at SFUSD's Commodore Sloat school.

The San Francisco Unified School district confirmed the stabbing took place off campus and during after school hours. We are told the principal is sending letters to parents today to address safety concerns.

SFPD confirmed the suspect fled the scene.

"We have information on the description of the suspect we are not releasing any further details on the suspect at this time. We are still trying to gather witness statements and gather any other information that may lead to the identification of the suspect," said SFPD officer Robert Rueca.

MORE: Relatives of family killed in SF West Portal crash file lawsuit against driver for moving assets

Residents in the area are urging the police department to increase their efforts.

"We are just feeling very on edge and just really want this person to be caught so we all feel safe in a community that we really thought was safe before this happened," said Rocha.

"This is a horrific tragedy. We know that this is affecting that neighborhood and our hearts go out to the family of their loved one who passed away," said SFPD officer Robert Rueca.

The name of the victim was not immediately available Thursday from the city's Medical Examiner's Office.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the SFPD tip line at (415) 575-4444 or to send a tip by text message to TIP411 with SFPD at the start of the message.

Now Streaming 24/7 Click Here

Copyright © 2026 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.