Community remembers San Francisco security guard killed trying to protect Japantown mall

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — On Tuesday, San Francisco’s Japantown and Western Addition communities mourned for safety guard Gavin Boston who was killed earlier this month outdoors the Japan Middle Mall.

Police arrested two teenagers who they imagine are accountable for the crime.

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Boston’s brother Jonathan was in tears on the memorial. Gavin was a safety guard in Japantown who was killed doing his job and making an attempt to maintain the folks on the mall secure.

“We have been instructed that it was in actual fact my brother who was shot and killed. It is simply beginning to sink in that he is gone,” mentioned Jonathan Boston.

Gavin was 40 years previous. Two teenage boys, 14 and 15, have been each arrested in connection to the killing that got here as Boston escorted one in all them out of the mall. Surveillance footage present these moments earlier than the gunfire. The second teen is just not seen within the photographs.

Safety guard shot, killed in San Francisco’s Japantown; 2 teenagers arrested, police say

Tuesday night time it was a few group coming collectively.

“We pray for his everlasting peace and happiness,” mentioned one girl.

“I need to acknowledge to Gavin Boston’s household, there’s nothing we will say to deliver him again. I’m so so sorry,” mentioned Shakirah Simley of the Booker T. Washington Group Service Middle.

Members of the family say Gavin Boston spent seven minutes contained in the mall space speaking with a younger man earlier than escorting him outdoors the place a minimum of one shot was fired. Candles are nonetheless lit in his reminiscence and a word that claims, ‘Gavin you saved our group! Relaxation in peace.’

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“He might very properly have stopped a higher tragedy,” mentioned Gavin’s sister Carla Seawright.

Seawright says that whereas some have known as for justice within the type of jail time, that is not what most of her household is in search of.

“My brother would need for this younger man, he is solely 15, he would need him to get all the assist he wants to have the ability to transfer ahead from this and be a productive and type and a compassionate good particular person,” mentioned Seawright.

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Most of those that spoke right here addressed the difficulty of weapons locally, with a hope that extra might be executed going ahead.

“The 2nd Modification, it is necessary what it would not say, it would not say hand out weapons to your youngsters and it would not say hand out weapons to people who find themselves mentally unstable,” mentioned Jonathan Boston.

Members of the family are grateful for all the group assist in wake of Gavin’s killing.

“Once more that is superb, we do respect it, and he deserved it,” mentioned Boston.

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