Teens arrested in connection with carjacking, assault on 76-year-old

Two teens from Oakland were arrested Monday in connection with a carjacking and an assault on an elderly Asian man in San Francisco’s Forest Knolls neighborhood.

Police said they believe the pair were part of a four-member crew that first tried to carjack a 37-year-old Asian man about 3:10 p.m. as he was sitting in his car in the 1000 block of Mississippi Street in the Potrero Hill neighborhood.

He initially refused when they ordered him out of the car, but got out when one of the suspects pointed a gun at him. After getting out, the victim feared for his life and ran away with the car keys, according to police.

About an hour later, at 4:08 p.m., a carjacking was reported in the 100 block of Galewood Circle, in the city’s Forest Knolls neighborhood near Laguna Honda Reservoir.

A 76-year-old man told police that he was cleaning his car inside his open garage when four males entered and demanded his car keys. One of the suspects then allegedly dragged him out of the garage, pushed him to the ground and assaulted him.

The attackers went through his pockets, took his car keys and drove off in the victim’s BMW, according to police. The man had non-life-threatening injuries and was treated at the scene.

About 15 minutes later, while officers were still investigating at Galewood Circle, police dispatchers began getting calls about a BMW driving recklessly on Interstate Highway 80 toward the Bay Bridge.

Officers from Tenderloin Station spotted the car, which matched the description of the carjacked vehicle, headed westbound on I-80. They tried to pull it over but the BMW fled at high speeds with police in pursuit over the Bay Bridge toward Treasure Island.

The suspects eventually exited onto Treasure Island and were involved in a traffic collision.

After a brief chase on foot, two suspects ages 14 and 16 were taken into custody on suspicion of several crimes that include assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, carjacking, attempted carjacking and possession of stolen vehicle.

While investigating the collision, police found a semi-automatic handgun that they allege was discarded by one of the suspects.

The investigation is ongoing and police ask that anyone with information about the incidents to call the San Francisco police tip line (415) 575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD. Tips may remain anonymous.