Medical Examiner's Office Identifies Man In Castro Stabbing Death

Medical Examiner's Office Identifies Man In Castro Stabbing DeathPhoto: Tai K./Hoodline
Steven Bracco
Published on December 15, 2016

The man who died of a fatal stab wound to the chest outside the Castro post office branch at 18th & Diamond on Monday afternoon has been identified as According to the Bay Area Reporter (BAR), he is 63-year-old Peter Robinson.

Robinson, originally from Madison, Wisconsin, was reportedly living in San Francisco at the time of his death, but it's unclear whether or not he was homeless. 

While police initially declined to rule out the possibility of foul play in Robinson's death, SFPD Mission Station Capt. Daniel Perea said the stabbing is now being treated as a suicide, as a note was left at the scene. 

"We're not looking for any suspect, and there is no threat to the neighborhood," he told the BAR. "It's a sad incident, but it was one individual who was despondent acting on his own."

Police outside the post office. | Photo: Randall D./Twitter

Perea said police didn't know why Robinson had chosen to end his life outside the post office. However, they did confirm that he wasn't an employee.

Christopher Wirowek, deputy director of the Medical Examiner's office, confirmed that the manner of death was determined to be suicide, and the cause of death was a stab wound to the chest.

"We did talk to some witnesses," Perea said, but "there were no reports of a fight. There were no reports of someone screaming or yelling for help."

Along with Robinson's suicide note, a small shoulder bag with his passport and other items was found at the scene.

Perea said the double-sided note was not "addressed to anyone in particular," and contained information about why he chose to kill himself, names of next of kin, and the date it was written.

It will be a few months before the Medical Examiner's office finishes a complete toxicology report, but Perea said he did not see any indication that Robinson had been using drugs.

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, visit San Francisco Suicide Prevention, call the crisis line at (415) 781-0500 or text MYLIFE to 741741.