A San Francisco jury has handed down a verdict of first-degree murder to 35-year-old Royce Colvin for the 2017 killing in the city's Tenderloin neighborhood. The decision comes after a trial that recounted the chilling details of how Colvin brutally murdered and robbed a man six years prior. The San Francisco District Attorney's Office announced the ruling. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins expressed gratitude to the jury for delivering justice and affirming the city's stance against such brutal acts.
"Every day our lawyers work tirelessly to provide justice to victims and their families who have endured the worst pain and loss imaginable," Jenkins said. Her office aims to demonstrate that violent crimes of this nature are completely unacceptable and will never be tolerated. According to the district attorney's press release, on the night of the attack, Colvin ambushed the victim as he walked with a female companion. Following an aggressive confrontation, the victim was beaten, hurled to the ground, and robbed.
When the victim used his companion’s phone to call 9-1-1, Colvin escalated the assault by shooting him in the face with a semi-automatic firearm, subsequently leading to his death. As law enforcement responded to the scene, they found the victim lying in the street with a fatal gunshot wound, while Colvin had already taken flight from the grisly scene.
The prosecution team led by Assistant District Attorney Butch Ford, together with various law enforcement and support staff, presented an undeniable case against Colvin. "This case exemplifies what a collaborative effort by various police agencies and committed law enforcement can accomplish," Ford stated. He also expressed his gratitude to the jurors for their commitment and recognized the victim’s family’s trust in the investigators and the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office. The hope is that the verdict will bring closure to the family.
Colvin, who remains in custody, faces the grim prospect of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. His sentencing, set for February 26.
