...By Gift BADEWO for TDPel Media.
Elderly San Francisco resident stabbed to death by next-door neighbor
An elderly woman, Mei Ran Hu, was found dead with severe stab wounds in her San Francisco apartment building.
The incident occurred while Hu stepped out to retrieve her mail, and her neighbor, Jesus Esparza, was later arrested for her murder.
The police department quickly identified Esparza as a suspect and detained him within the same building where the stabbing occurred.
Esparza allegedly knifed Hu three times in the lobby of the building before she attempted to flee and hid in a nearby stairwell.
Hu was discovered unresponsive and succumbed to her injuries after first responders arrived on the scene.
Esparza was charged with murder, elder abuse, and resisting arrest.
Victim and Suspect’s Background
Hu’s family said Esparza lived in the unit next to Hu’s, but the two never met due to their language barrier.
The suspect reportedly had serious mental health issues and relied on the care of his mother.
His mother was not in the building at the time of the stabbing, and an individual familiar with the situation said: ‘If the mom was here, I don’t think this would happen.’
Concerns of the Victim’s Family
Hu’s son expressed concern that the suspect may escape justice, saying: ‘Probably, he can be released after, and (my) mom will die for nothing.’
The victim’s niece slammed the senseless killing, calling it a reminder of the severe problems in San Francisco society.
Crime Wave in San Francisco
The incident came as San Francisco is experiencing a rampant crime wave, which has been attributed to untamed homelessness and soft-on-crime governing.
The West Coast city is just 32 percent as full as it was pre-pandemic, largely due to lawlessness and soft-on-crime policies.
San Francisco has been hit with years of untamed violence, open-air drug markets, and rampant homelessness.
The city has also witnessed a sharp uptick in homicides and robberies, leading to numerous major retailers, including T-Mobile, closing their San Francisco locations due to ‘rampant criminal activity.’
