A group of seven men who violently assaulted and robbed a man walking with his fiancée and an infant were tracked to Sacramento, where they were taken into custody and transported back to San Francisco for prosecution
The court released each defendant on their own recognizance
San Francisco, CA – Today, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced that seven men have been charged following a violent group assault near Pier 39 on February 21, 2026.
The men charged are Matthew Aval Taylor (23), Jatrell Joseph Howard (22), Emanuel Barajas-Brenes (21), Anthony Lee Henson (33), Johnatan Guzman Lopez (26), Rootrevion Deontez Gay (23), and Ayden Jared Guzman (22).
All seven were arraigned on February 25, 2026, and all pleaded not guilty to all charges and denied the allegations. All seven are charged with one count of second-degree robbery with an allegation that they inflicted great bodily injury on the victim and one count of assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury with an allegation that they inflicted great bodily injury on the victim.
The District Attorney’s Office moved to have all seven detained pending trial without bail due to the public safety risk they pose. The court released all seven defendants on their own recognizance. Their next court date is March 17, 2026, to set the date of the preliminary hearing. The Public Defender is ordered to show cause as to why they should not be held in contempt for failing to accept appointment of an indigent defendant’s case as required by law at a hearing on March 5, 2026. Mr. Barajas-Brenes is also ordered to appear on March 5, 2026.
According to court documents, on February 21, 2026, at approximately 9:54 p.m., San Francisco Police officers responded to Pier 39 regarding a violent assault and robbery. Officers located the victim unconscious and bleeding from the mouth near the Pier 39 parking garage. The victim was unresponsive and required emergency transport to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. Allegedly, the group of seven men was traveling in a Chevrolet Tahoe when they stopped and got out of the vehicle and approached the victim, who was walking with his fiancée and infant child. Allegedly, Mr. Taylor extended his hand as if to shake hands with the victim then lunged at the victim’s neck and forcibly ripped a gold and diamond necklace from the victim’s neck. The victim tried to get his necklace back and then allegedly several men surrounded the victim and repeatedly punched and kicked him. After the victim fell to the ground unconscious and motionless, allegedly, Mr. Guzman-Lopez got out of the driver’s seat of the car and kicked the victim in the head. The victim’s fiancée then sprayed pepper spray in the direction of the group who then allegedly ran back to the Tahoe and drove away. Automated License Plate Reader cameras captured the Tahoe as it fled the scene. License plate reader cameras were able to track the vehicle travelling north on I-80 to Vacaville. California Highway Patrol Officers in Sacramento stopped the vehicle as it was pulling into Mr. Guzman-Lopez’ residence, with all seven men present. The victim’s gold and diamond necklace was recovered from the Tahoe. San Francisco Police Officers arrived on scene shortly thereafter and transported the defendants back to San Francisco.
Although charges have been filed in this case this remains an active investigation. Anyone with information regarding this case, is asked to call the San Francisco Police Department Tip Line at 1-415-575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD. You may remain anonymous.
Court Numbers: Taylor, 26004140, Howard, 26004141, Barajas-Brenes, 26004142, Hensen, 26004143, Guzman-Lopez, 26004144, Gay, 21004145, Guzman, 26004146
###