San Francisco prosecutors have charged a 42-year-old woman with murder in the fatal shooting of a Warfield security guard early Saturday, an incident authorities say followed a disruption inside the downtown theater.
Shakia Vanderbilt of San Francisco was arrested Tuesday, police said. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced Wednesday that Vanderbilt had been charged with murder, along with an enhancement for personal use of a firearm, intentional discharge of a firearm in an occupied building and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The victim, 47-year-old Ulysses Tykee Davis, was a father of six who worked security at the Warfield and was known to relatives and coworkers as “Bear.”
“We’re happy that they have made an arrest and are continuing the investigation and their attention to what’s going on, both the SFPD and the district attorney’s office,” Davis’ brother-in-law, Terrance Cooper, told Mission Local.
“Still for us, this is so surreal,” Cooper said. The family, he added, is “still trying to wrap our heads around it.”
Davis’ wife and two of his children were at the theater when he was shot, Cooper said.
“One of his daughters and one of his sons was there, [and] his wife,” Cooper said. “They saw him take his last breaths right there in that hallway. It’s very traumatic. That’s something they will never not see or relive over and over again.”
The two adult children at the theater that night are themselves parents to two of Davis’ three grandchildren, Cooper said.
Police responded shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday to the Warfield Theatre, where officers found Davis suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Officers rendered aid before paramedics took him to a hospital, where he died.
Authorities revealed several new details Wednesday about what they believe happened before the shooting, though both Jenkins and Chief Derrick Lew cautioned that the investigation remains active.
“There was a disruption inside of the club, and the suspect was brought outside at some point,” Jenkins said. “At some point there was a dispute that led to this incident.”
Jenkins said investigators are still trying to determine whether Davis was targeted. She also said investigators believe video of the incident exists.
Asked whether Vanderbilt may have entered the Warfield with a firearm, Jenkins said “it appears that that may have been the case,” but stressed investigators were still examining what happened.
“Nobody should worry that if they go watch a show at a venue, that somebody is armed inside,” Jenkins said.
The Warfield had hosted an 18-and-over event Friday night tied to the Zeus Network reality TV series Baddies USA. Mission Local previously reported that Warfield employees described a chaotic end to the event shortly before the shooting.
Bartenders working that night said a chemical irritant that staff described as bear mace was sprayed inside the theater around 12:45 a.m., sending people rushing toward the exits. Slack messages reviewed by Mission Local showed staffers warning one another about gunfire about 20 minutes later.
Authorities on Wednesday did not provide a detailed account of the shooting itself.
Vanderbilt is expected to be arraigned Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at the Hall of Justice.
The district attorney also said her office and city officials intend to work with the Warfield and other entertainment venues to examine security procedures and police presence.
Lew said that SFPD had already begun increasing staffing in the Mid-Market area before the shooting and would continue daytime foot patrols and outreach to businesses, residents and venues.
Davis’ sister, who asked not to be named to protect her privacy while the family grieves, said her brother’s death still did not feel real.
“I want whoever did this to not ever be on the street again,” she said. Cooper said Davis and his sister were best friends and spoke every day.
“It’s like a bad dream that we just can’t wake up from,” Cooper told Mission Local. “I called him yesterday and I wasn’t thinking about it.”
