Suspects Sought in Vicious Beating Near Sutro Heights Park

By Carol Dimmick

In the early morning hours of March 2, a vicious attack on the steps of Sutro Heights Park left two Richmond District residents bleeding from serious head wounds and their neighbors shaken.

The attack on Ryan Declan and Peter McKenna came at 5 a.m. as the two friends were walking through the park on their way to the beach. Neighbors, who were awakened by screaming in the early morning hours, called the police who found McKenna bleeding from the head at the corner of Cabrillo and La Playa streets.

McKenna told police officers that he and Declan were attacked by three Asian males and that one of their attackers beat them with a baseball bat. McKenna took off running as the other two males continued beating his friend. He eventually collapsed and was taken to San Francisco General Hospital.

Declan, the more seriously injured of the two, was found by police in an unconscious state at the corner of Balboa and La Playa streets. He was bleeding heavily from the face and surrounded by a group of neighbors. He was taken by ambulance to San Francisco General Hospital.

The vicious attack in the quiet morning hours left neighbors stunned and shaken.

Christopher Ford, who lives in a nearby apartment building, told police he was awakened about 5 a.m. by yelling and screaming. Ford said he heard what sounded like an aluminum bat "making contact with something" and called the police.

Similar accounts were given by other witnesses, who confirmed McKenna's account that three Asian males were responsible for the beatings. One witness told police he watched two Asian males going over a fence across the street from his apartment building, one with a bat in his hand. The same witness said he could identify one of the suspects who lives in the area.

Both Declan and McKenna were released from the hospital and are doing well, according to a roommate. Inspector Michael Becker recently confirmed that the investigation is on hold, as are many others in the City, because of large anti-war demonstrations.