Merchants in San Francisco’s Japan Center are in shock after two teens allegedly shot and killed a popular security guard Thursday night.
Authorities say 40-year-old Gavin Boston was escorting the teens out of the mall when one of them shot him in the head.
CBS San Francisco reports prosecutors charged a 15 year old with murder and a 14 year old with being an accessory to murder.
Boston had just started working there in November, but had been well-liked by tenants.
“It’s not fair. It’s more than sad. Everybody, every tenant is sad,” said Ritsuko Suzuki owns a bonsai shop in the mall to Fox2. “He was the best of the best security guy. When we need him, he always is there. Always. So fast.”
Flowers placed by mourners mark the area where Boston lost his life. The Chronicle reports the boys were being escorted out after a dispute outside a collectibles shop.
“What I heard was he was one of the best security guards that anybody has even had from the merchants. They are devastated and we want people to know that Japantown is safe, we’re here, we’re open,” added Alice Kawahatsu of the Japantown Task Force to ABC7 News.
A town hall meeting organized by the Japantown Community Benefit District is expected soon to discuss safety.
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