On Tuesday, October 18, the San Francisco Police Department's Night Investigations Unit, along with various other SFPD units and local law enforcement agencies, successfully executed multiple arrest warrants in connection to a shooting incident from June. Xavier Pittman and a juvenile male were taken into custody; Richard Tuiasosopo was already held on unrelated charges. An array of firearms and ammunition were seized during the operation.
The arrests relate back to a violent incident occurred on June 18, 2023, involving a shoot-out and car chase in the Southern and Central Districts. Among the victims were a 48-year-old male and a 10-year-old girl, both sustaining minor injuries.
Police originally responded due to reports of a white sedan and black SUV exchanging gunfire while driving eastbound on Beach Street. The chaos resulted in three bystander vehicles being struck by bullets. One man inside these cars was lightly injured from shattered glass and transported to a local hospital.
Both suspect vehicles hastily southward on The Embarcadero. Two pedestrians, a 10-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy, were struck at the intersection of The Embarcadero and Kearny Street. The girl was taken to a local hospital, while the boy was treated at the scene; both had non-life-threatening injuries.
The SUV finally crashed at the intersection of The Embarcadero and Howard Street, with the white sedan fleeing the scene. The occupants of the SUV, a 28-year-old woman, and a 33-year-old man had been shot during the incident and were taken to hospital. Both were later released following treatment, with the man briefly under arrest before being released pending further investigations.
The Night Investigations Unit later identified the crew in the sedan as having potential links to series of auto burglaries throughout the Northern and Central Police Districts. Arrest warrants were then issued for Richard Tuiasosopo, Xavier Pittman, and a male juvenile.
This investigation remains an open. The San Francisco Police Department is asking for the public's assistance. Tips can be called into the SFPD Tip Line at 1-415-575-4444, or texted to TIP411 with the start of the text message as SFPD. Tips may remain anonymous. Source: SFPD.
