Family pleads for help solving S.F. slaying
Almost a year to the day since 26-year-old John Sanyaolu was shot to death outside a nightclub in the South of Market neighborhood of San Francisco, his family made a public plea for help in identifying and catching his killer.
“I pray that God will reward you eternally as you stand by me and my family,” the victim’s mother, Fumni Oyewole, said at a news conference Wednesday at San Francisco police headquarters. “I pray that the public will stand by me for justice.”
Sanyaolu of Stockton was with friends at The Endup in the 400 block of Sixth Street around 2:25 a.m. on Oct. 2 when a verbal altercation broke out inside the nightclub, police said. The argument moved outside where it escalated into a physical fight, police said, and Sanyaolu jumped in to aid the friends and relatives who had joined him at the club.
Gunfire broke out, police said, killing Sanyaolu and injuring two of his relatives, both men ages 28 and 26.
“We know that there are still a number of witnesses out there that have information on this homicide,” said Cmdr. Greg McEachern of the San Francisco Police Department’s Investigations Bureau. “We know that someone in the community saw something. We need them to come forward and say something.”
On Wednesday, family members joined Oyewole at the news conference to ask for witnesses to come forward. They described Sanyaolu as someone who had a big personality and could brighten an entire room with his smile.
“At the funeral, there was a line out the door to get in,” said Whitney Sanyaolu, the victim’s younger sister. “They had to bring out a microphone so people standing outside could hear the service.”
Whitney Sanyaolu wore a shirt with the
“We know that there are still a number of witnesses out there that have information on this homicide.” Cmdr. Greg McEachern of the San Francisco Police Department’s Investigations Bureau
phrase “Long Live John” emblazoned across the back over the last photo taken of all four Sanyaolu siblings together. She said she had the shirt made soon after her brother died, and she and his friends had a new design made for the anniversary of his death.
She described growing up in a large family and the tight bond she shared with her brother. Though they bickered like most siblings, she said, her brother was protective and was the one who took time to teach her how to drive.
“One time I was dropping a friend off and I noticed after she left that he was in his car following me,” Whitney Sanyaolu said. “He laughed and told me that he just wanted to see if I was hanging out with a boy.”
Police said witnesses can contact them anonymously by calling (415) 575-4444 or texting a tip to TIP411, beginning the message with “SFPD.”