A man stands accused in a brutal double stabbing that took a life and left another hanging by a thread in San Francisco's Mission District. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins confirmed that Dennis James Duree, 39, has been slapped with murder, attempted murder, and assault with a deadly weapon charges stemming from the December incident. The announcement was made earlier today, spotlighting the city's ongoing battle with violent crime.
Despite being charged on January 16, arraignment delays are keeping Duree out of the courtroom, with his appearance now postponed to February 8. Charged with refusing to attend court dates, the stabbings took place early in the morning on December 28, 2023, leaving a 45-year-old male dead and a 38-year-old female critically injured. According to San Francisco Police, responding to a call at around 5:37 a.m., officers found the victims on Mission and Washburn Streets, soon followed by desperate life-saving attempts that would ultimately prove futile for one of them.
"Violence of this kind in our neighborhoods is tragic," said District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, acknowledging the arrest made by the San Francisco Police. "I offer my condolences to the victim's family and loved ones and reassert my commitment to pursuing justice to ensure that the suspect is held accountable for this senseless crime," Jenkins stated. The stakes for Duree, if convicted of all the serious charges laid against him, are high, with the potential for a sentence ranging up to 40 years to life.
The accused man has been behind bars since January 11, staying put after a judge acquiesced to the District Attorney's request to detain him before the trial, citing the public safety threat he ostensibly poses. Set at no bail, the court will revisit Mr. Duree's detention later, pondering further over motions to keep him detained. Meanwhile, the San Francisco Police urge anyone with information to come forward, offering a Tip Line at 1-415-575-4444 or a text message option to TIP411, starting the message with SFPD, assuring anonymity for tipsters.
