A San Francisco man has been taken into custody for his alleged involvement in an armed robbery that targeted a local business on Ocean Avenue. Haoli Weng, 26, stands accused of using a semi-automatic pistol in the January 4 heist, said District Attorney Brooke Jenkins in a release.
Weng, who pleaded not guilty to the charges on January 19, is facing one count of second-degree robbery and the allegation that he used a firearm during the commission of the crime, as well as one count of possessing a weapon without the necessary competency certificate. Jenkins vowed to "do everything in my power to ensure that there is accountability and consequences," according to a statement obtained from the District Attorney's Office.
On the day of the robbery, it is alleged that Weng entered the store, pointed the pistol at an employee behind the cash register, and made off with $100. It wasn't until January 17 that witnesses reportedly recognized the suspect and quickly alerted the San Francisco Police, who promptly apprehended Weng.
Weng’s preliminary hearing is set for February 1. The District Attorney's Office succeeded in their motion to have him detained without bail, citing the public safety risk he supposedly poses. "I am grateful to the witnesses who came forward and the San Francisco Police who made an arrest," Jenkins added.
While formal charges have been laid against Weng, officials say the investigation is ongoing and encourage anyone with information to come forward. The San Francisco Police Department Tip Line can be reached at 1-415-575-4444, or tips can be texted to TIP411, prefacing the message with "SFPD". Informants have the option to remain anonymous. Weng could face up to 15 years in state prison if convicted on all counts.
