San Francisco police officers have arrested a suspect in the August 2023 fatal shooting of Damien González, an 18-year-old who was playing basketball with friends at the Mission Recreation Center when he was gunned down on the second floor.
González had graduated from Civic Center Secondary School the year before, but had spent most of his high school years at John O’Connell High School, around the corner from the gym. He was together with his school friends on Aug. 18 when a young man wearing a ski mask and hoodie targeted him, according to sources. He was shot multiple times and died on-scene, according to his family; he was declared deceased at the hospital.
The San Francisco Police Department said that, last week, officers arrested Antonio Malik Rodgers-Alcala, 21, a resident of Daly City, for the shooting, after an investigation. Rodgers-Alcala was booked on Dec. 28, 2023, on suspicion of murder and carrying a loaded firearm. He is still in jail, according to the Sheriff’s Office, and is being held without the possibility of bail.
The department said that, in executing a search warrant in Daly City, Rodgers-Alcala “attempted to run away, but was quickly apprehended.” The department added that its officers searched his residence and “seized evidence related to the homicide.”
González was an emerging leader in the Mission District: He had been active in the Latino Task Force during the pandemic, and continued to play a role in neighborhood nonprofits, going to City Hall weeks before his killing to push for increased city spending in the district. He was an aspiring entrepreneur, and created a clothing line called “Born Broke, Die Rich,” making sweatshirts and T-shirts featuring his own designs.
He was also awaiting a child: His girlfriend was pregnant at the time of his killing, and supporters set up a fundraiser to help with the expecting mother’s childcare costs. The baby was due in October.
His family described him as the joy of the household, and said he was a family man, helping to take care of his uncle after a surgery, for instance. He was, they said, a light, jovial presence.
“He was always happy, happy, happy,” his grandmother said at the time “He never had an angry expression.”
Rest in peace. Your short life meant something and was not wasted. Hopefully your murder will not go unpunished. You will not be forgotten.
dear cousin of mine ever since you left out of my life my world became silent became dark out of no where desde que TE perdi you don’t know how much it has hurt me that I lost you chelo you were the only one who made me laugh smile with your funny jokes your way being of being funny yk chelo I’m now 14 my birthday is in 4 months and i am going to turn fifteen this year I thought It would be nice like you promised to have you as my chambelan for my birthday you know have you and everyone at the family party but chelo once I heard about you and your baby coming I was happy I never thought tho that I was gonna ever lose you , you were the best cousin trust me you are a hard working man who works his ass off in studying and helping making merch pero nunca pense que esto iba a pasar esto on a monday on august on a day before my birthday I was planning to tell you about it but it broke me into tears that I had to lose you I miss you deeply with all my heart but sometimes I gotta be strong about it no matter what. Damien rest in peace bro you will never be forgotten – irais