Hate Crime in the Castro? Arrest Made After Alleged SF Attack

A man in San Francisco was arrested and charged with a hate crime after he allegedly stalked two gay men in the Castro gayborhood and assaulted one of the men with a glass object.

Muhammed Abdullah, 20, was taken into custody on Monday, June 5, around 18th and Church streets in the Castro following a brief foot chase. He was charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with hate crime allegations, misdemeanor battery, violation of a person’s civil rights, and petty theft for the incident that took place earlier that morning.

Police allege Abdullah was following two men, one aged 58 and the other 40 years old, while “aggressively shouting anti-LGBTQ language at the men.” He then allegedly threw a glass object at the 40-year-old victim causing non-life-threatening injuries. The men contacted police who, using the description provided, were able to locate Abdullah a short time later roughly half a mile from the scene of the alleged attack.

“San Francisco is a safe haven for LGBTQ people,” District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said in a statement. “Our city is proud of our diversity and for being an open and welcoming beacon to all people, especially those who have been marginalized elsewhere. Hate crimes that seek to demean and otherize people because of who they are, what they look like, or who they love are unacceptable and will be prosecuted.”

“These kinds of attacks are unacceptable,” Chief of Police William Scott said in a statement. “It’s especially troubling that this incident took place as we celebrate Pride month in San Francisco. Anyone who threatens or harms someone based on being a member of the LGBTQ community will be held accountable.”

Abdullah appeared at his arraignment last Thursday where he told the court he acted because “what the LGBT community is doing to kids is disrespectful to everyone who stands for God.”

Abdullah currently remains in custody, and prosecutors hope to keep him behind bars. At his arraignment on Thursday, prosecutors requested pretrial detention for the man, citing his mental capacity and claiming he is a threat to the community. According to the Bay Area Reporter, the accused’s appearance was delayed after a deputy was overheard telling Judge Victor M. Hwang that Abdullah was “in the tank screaming” for an extended period of time before he was eventually led into court.

Abdullah faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted on all charges. His next scheduled court appearance is June 21.

Police suspect Abdullah may be responsible for other acts of violence and vandalism in the area, and ask that anyone with information about this particular case or others call the SFPD Tip Line at (415) 575-4444 or text TIP411. Police stressed you can remain anonymous when reporting a tip.