SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A man convicted of beating a San Francisco grandmother who later died is facing life in prison, a judge said Tuesday.
San Francisco Superior Court Judge Eric Fleming said Keonte Gathron, 25, will likely be sentenced to prison without the possibility of parole in the death of Yik Oi Huang. The judge postponed sentencing until next week because the defendant had not received a presentence report, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
Gathron was convicted earlier this month of murder, carjacking, robbery, elder abuse, child endangerment and other charges stemming from a two-week crime rampage in January 2019. Authorities say he targeted victims of Asian descent or who spoke little English.
Huang, 88, was attacked on her morning walk. She was found injured at a playground in the Visitacion Valley neighborhood where she lived. Her skull, arms and neck were broken. Her home was burglarized minutes afterward.
Huang received long-term care at a hospital but died in January 2020. Her assault preceded the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes during the pandemic and rattled the city’s Asian American community.
Gathron represented himself and denied culpability but produced no evidence. He also accused police of manipulating surveillance video, DNA and other evidence.
Fleming announced he intends to sentence Gathron to two life sentences — one with the possibility of parole — and over 30 years for other offenses. Gathron plans to appeal.
Huang's three daughters and several grandchildren spoke in court, in English and Cantonese. They described Huang as a hard-working wife, mother and garment factory employee in China who made sure her children were fed. She realized a dream of moving to the U.S. and owning a home in San Francisco.
A tearful Gathron said he “understood the pain and loss” but insisted he was innocent.
The park where Huang died was renamed Yik Oi Huang Peace and Friendship Park last year.
FILE - Sasanna Yee, granddaughter of Yik Oi Huang, who was fatally beaten in January 2019 in a San Francisco park, prays in front of an altar during a pilgrimage, March 16, 2024, in Antioch, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez, File)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Daniel Jones slammed his helmet to the ground several times before eventually limping to the sideline.
He was reacting to his latest injury, which might be season-ending. His body language was indicative of how the Indianapolis Colts must feel with the AFC South — and their once-promising season — slipping away.
Already playing with a broken bone in his left leg, Jones injured his right Achilles tendon in a 36-19 loss at Jacksonville on Sunday.
“Could be season-ending. I don’t have the full details on it, but we’ll get more clarity on that,” coach Shane Steichen said. "Not for sure, but it’s not looking good.”
Jones dropped to the ground after throwing incomplete and immediately grabbed the back of his right leg. He eventually got up and made his way to the sideline and then the locker room for tests. He returned to the sideline in the second half wearing a walking boot.
Riley Leonard replaced him, but the Colts (8-5) were essentially done for the day.
They might be done for the season. With Jones injured and four winning teams — Seattle, San Francisco, Jacksonville and Houston — left on the schedule, no one should be surprised if Indy doesn't win again.
Cornerback Kenny Moore called this loss — the team's third in a row and fourth in five games — a dagger.
Jones' injury surely had a lot to do with it. Jones' resurgence was a big reason the Colts started the season 7-1. He signed a one-year contract in free agency and beat out Anthony Richardson in training camp.
But with potentially a nine-month rehab in front of him, the Colts could be looking for a new starter in March.
“Anytime you lose a guy that puts in so much work and so much effort, and is always there for his team, and showing up with a fibula injury and goes out there and freaking plays, just so much respect for him," Steichen said. "Just so much respect.”
With Richardson on injured reserve with a broken orbital bone, Leonard is the only other quarterback on Indy's roster. Brett Rypien is on the practice squad.
Jones played several games though a broken left leg. He said he couldn’t pinpoint exactly when the injury occurred or when he first noticed something didn’t seem right. He maintained the past two weeks he felt healthy enough to play.
His performance, however, told a different story. As defenses put increasingly more pressure on Jones, he has looked less mobile and has been less accurate than in Indy’s first eight games.
He completed 5 of 7 passes for 60 yards, with an interception against Jacksonville. Leonard completed 18 of 29 passes for 145 yards, with a touchdown run and an interception.
“I was actually impressed with what he did in the situation," Steichen said. "I thought he went in and competed his tail off.”
Leonard credited Jones with getting him ready to play and praised him for playing through the broken leg.
“Daniel’s the toughest guy that I’ve ever been around, by far in my life," Leonard said. "He’s the most competitive person that I’ve ever met. So it’s no surprise that he came back out there to cheer us on. I remember going over the sideline, and he was just first one to put the raincoat on me, the first one to ask me what I see on that play and help me out and what to expect on certain situations.
“It’s just exactly who he is, whether he’s playing or not. He’s very consistent, man. So I really respect that about him.”
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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) walks off the field after an injury during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) grabs his leg after an injury during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
