San Francisco Police Arrest Stabbing Suspect and Assault Suspects 23-030

On February 16, 2023, at approximately 11:58 p.m., San Francisco Police Officers from Central Station responded to the 500 block of Geary Street for a report of a stabbing that had just occurred. Officers arrived on scene and met with the victim, a 41-year-old male, suffering from apparent stab wounds. Officers summoned medics to the scene who transported the victim to a nearby hospital for treatment of numerous stab wounds where he was treated and later released.  

The victim told officers that he was walking back to his hotel he was assaulted by multiple unknown suspects. The suspects fled in an unknown direction and the victim managed to return to his hotel on the 500 block of Geary where police were called. Officers determined the stabbing location to be on the 300 block of Taylor Street. 

The San Francisco Police Department Night Investigations Unit (NIU) took over the investigation. Investigators obtained possible suspect information and circulated it through a department bulletin. On February 19, 2023, while in the Jones and Ellis Streets area, officers from Tenderloin Station recognized one suspect who was identified as 19-year-old Richard Rice. Rice was arrested and booked at San Francisco County Jail on charges of attempted murder (664/187 PC), mayhem (203 PC), possession of a switchblade knife (17235 PC), possession of a controlled substance without a valid prescription (11350(a) HS) and possession of methamphetamine (11377(a) HS). 

Through the course of the investigation, officers identified and located two additional suspects who were identified as 26-year-old Niauni Hill and 24-year-old Navar Anderson. Hill and Anderson were taken into custody on March 4, 2023, on the 300 block of Ellis Street by investigators with the assistance of Tenderloin and Southern station officers.  

Hill was booked for the charges of four counts of assault with a deadly weapon (245(a)PC) and Anderson was booked on charges of four counts of assault with a deadly weapon (245(a)PC) and possession of methamphetamine (11377(a) HS). 

While arrests have been made, this remains an open investigation. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact the San Francisco Police Department SFPD 24-hour-tip line at 1-415-575-4444, or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD. You may remain anonymous. 

SFPD Case: 230116702