A jury in San Francisco returned to a packed courtroom Thursday morning to tell a judge that it was deadlocked on two counts in the case against seven pro-Palestinian protesters who shut down traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge in 2024 to denounce U.S. aid to Israel in the Israel-Hamas war.

The jury indicated that it could likely reach a decision on one of the deadlocked counts, but the other it could not. San Francisco Superior Court Judge Teresa Caffese asked the jury to resume deliberations on one of the two deadlocked counts.

“Why don’t I send you back, and then we’ll go from there,” Caffese said.

Six of the protesters who chained themselves together on vehicles on the bridge and a protester who was designated to communicate with authorities are each facing eight to nine charges of felony conspiracy and false imprisonment.

The seven defendants sat in the courtroom with anticipation for a verdict, wearing keffiyehs around their necks. Dozens of their supporters packed the courtroom to the brim.

The jury reached unanimous decisions on the rest of the counts. It did not indicate which two counts it was deadlocked on.

Supporters of the seven protesters said that a verdict on the rest of the counts is expected to be read out sometime Thursday.

Killed pedestrian, struck 3 more people

By San Francisco Police Department

On May 25, 2026, at approximately 12:13 am, San Francisco Police officers responded to the area of 16th and Mission Streets regarding a vehicle collision.

Officers were advised that a collision occurred between a vehicle and a pedestrian.

Officers arrived on scene and located a pedestrian victim being treated by paramedics for life threatening injuries. Paramedics transported the victim to a local hospital.

Despite lifesaving efforts of medical staff, the victim was later declared deceased at the hospital.

A preliminary investigation revealed that a vehicle collided with a pedestrian and struck three additional victims.

The three victims were medically assessed on scene for non-life-threatening injuries.

Through the course of the investigation, officers located the suspect vehicle and detained the occupant of the vehicle.

The Traffic Collision Investigations Unit (TCIU) responded to scene and conducted their investigation.

Through the course of the investigation, TCIU investigators developed probable cause to arrest the driver identified as 57-year-old Samuel Powell of Discovery Bay on June 30, 2026.

Powell was arrested and charged for vehicular Manslaughter 192(c)(2) PC and the driver’s responsibility to exercise due care for the safety of any pedestrian within the roadway 21955(b)(3) CVC.

Although an arrest has been made, this remains an open and active investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the SFPD at 415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.