San Francisco Police Make Arrest in Potrero Avenue Homicide 21-210(a)

On Sunday, November 28, 2021, at approximately 4:56 a.m., San Francisco Police officers from Mission Station responded to Potrero Avenue and Cesar Chavez Street regarding a shooting. Officers arrived on scene and located a 31-year-old male victim suffering from a gunshot wound. Officers immediately rendered aid and summoned medics to the scene who transported the victim to the hospital for life-threatening injuries. Despite the efforts of the emergency responders and hospital medical staff the victim succumbed to his injuries and was declared deceased in the hospital. Investigators from the SFPD Homicide detail took over the investigation.

Investigators developed information that identified the suspect as 38-year-old Clifford Lavern Stokes of Oakland. On December 16, 2021, investigators from the SFPD Homicide Detail and members of the SFPD Tactical Unit located Stokes on the 600 block of Market Street in Oakland where he was taken into custody without incident.

Stokes was later transported to San Francisco County Jail and booked on charges of murder (187(a) PC), robbery (211 PC), receiving stolen property (496(a) PC), and fraudulent use of a credit card (484g PC).

While an arrest has been made this remains an open investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the SFPD Tip Line at 1-415-575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD. You may remain anonymous.