Charges have been dropped against two men who were arrested in connection with a fatal shooting in a South of Market nightclub in June, officials said Thursday.
Charles Gardner, 25, and Terrance Webb, 37, were arrested and charged with murder with gang enhancements in connection with the June 5 death of 19-year-old San Francisco resident Sean Ford inside the End Up nightclub at Sixth and Harrison streets.
However prosecutors dropped all charges against Gardner and Webb on Wednesday following the presentation of evidence in a preliminary hearing, according to Alex Bastian, a spokesman for the district attorney’s office.
Bastian said of the decision:
“The prosecution has the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant did not act in lawful self defense.”
Deputy Public Defender Manohar Raju, who represented Gardner, said his client works in construction, volunteers as a youth basketball coach and is a “beloved member of the Bayview-Hunters Point community.”
Raju said:
“Mr. Ford’s death was an awful tragedy, but a more in-depth examination of the video recordings and complicated ballistic evidence revealed that Mr. Gardner was not guilty.”
Webb’s attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.
Both men have been released from custody.
Last modified September 30, 2016 12:23 am
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