‘Devastated’ family calls on public to help solve man’s murder

The mother of a man killed over the weekend in a shooting in San Francisco’s Polk Gulch neighborhood said on Tuesday her entire family has been devastated by her son’s murder.

According to police, 25-year-old Robert Gash was killed in a shooting that happened around 1:40 a.m. Saturday on Fern Street, between Polk Street and Van Ness Avenue.

At the scene, officers found Gash suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

The suspect fled before officers arrived and remains outstanding.

Gash’s family said the shooting happened just after Gash had left the nearby Mayes Oyster Bar on Polk Street.

According to his family, Gash was born in Greenbrae in Marin County but was raised in San Francisco’s Mission District.

Gash’s mother Tanya Mena said:

“He was a really nice guy that everyone loved. … It’s devastating. Everybody is in shock… none of us are doing well.”

Gash’s family has organized a GoFundMe campaign to help with his funeral expenses, which, as of Tuesday morning, has raised more than $3,400 of its $20,000 goal.

The GoFundMe post organized by Sharon Marenco reads:

“There were tons of people and cameras around so whoever did this will be caught, but it takes the community to come together and help solve the senseless murder of a beautiful, young soul. Don’t let Robert be another statistic or forgotten vigil on the street. We are afraid that the SFPD will not due their due diligence and will leave this crime unsolved.”

The fund can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/f/edwb9-help-roberts-family.

Both police and Gash’s family are urging anyone who has more information about the shooting to come forward by calling the Police Department’s anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444 or to text to TIP411 with “SFPD” at the start of the message.