SF police: Homeless person beaten to death in unprovoked attack

SAN FRANCISCO -- Investigators are looking for a group of "cowards" who attacked and beat a sleeping homeless man to death in San Francisco's Financial District early Monday morning, a police spokesman said.

Officer Albie Esparza said investigators are reviewing surveillance footage to find the group of about three suspects believed to be responsible for the man's death at an alley behind buildings near the corner of Montgomery and Sutter streets.

Someone who tried to rouse him found the man dead in a sleeping bag there at about 7:30 a.m.

Esparza said it appears a group of about three people found him sleeping there and started beating him. The man was not robbed and there was no clear motive.

"It's a vicious crime and people should be outraged that this homeless person was attacked unprovoked and essentially beaten to death," Esparza said.

Police are asking anyone with video surveillance in the area or anyone who may have information about the suspects to contact San Francisco police investigators.

Esparza said that investigators are already reviewing surveillance footage and hope to release a description of the suspects soon. The victim's name has not been released pending notification of his family.

Anyone with information can contact the San Francisco anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444 or send a tip by text message to TIP411 with "SFPD" in the message.