SF store clerk allegedly hit with bat during robbery, police said

A San Francisco convenience store clerk was allegedly assaulted just after 9:30 p.m. on Thursday in an apparent theft attempt, the San Francisco Police Department said.

When SFPD arrived at Richmond Market, a store located on Balboa Street and 41st Avenue in the Outer Richmond, officers found a 60-year-old man laying on the ground unconscious. Witnesses told police that a person entered the market and was confronted by the clerk, who was holding a bat. 

The person allegedly grabbed the bat from the clerk and then used it to assault the man. The alleged assailant then threw the bat at another person inside the store, who was not injured, and then fled the scene in a sedan, police said.

Officers said the store employee had “significant injuries”; paramedics took him to a nearby hospital for treatment. 

A witness, who identified the clerk as Yohannes Tewolde, or “John,” set up a GoFundMe page that describes Tewolde as being friendly with customers and working at the market “7 days a week.” The GoFundMe describes the attack as a “horrible scene” and claims Tewolde is in the ICU “fighting for his life.” More than $15,000 has been raised for the clerk so far.

Supervisor Connie Chan, who represents the District 1 neighborhood where the attack occurred, condemned the robbery in a statement shared with SFGATE.

“Everyone deserves to be safe in San Francisco, what happened is unacceptable. My heart is with the victim and his family,” Chan wrote. 

Police said this is an ongoing investigation and a suspect has not been arrested. Anyone with information about the robbery is urged to contact the department at 415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411.

This breaking news story has been updated.