On May 15, 2021, Darryl Haynes, a 61-year-old resident of San Francisco, was tragically killed in a shooting incident in the Potrero Hill neighborhood. The shooting occurred just after 10 a.m. near the intersection of 25th and Connecticut streets. Haynes was found suffering from gunshot wounds and was transported to a hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
This incident was part of a series of shootings that day, as another shooting occurred approximately two hours later, resulting in the death of 54-year-old Randy Armstrong and critical injuries to another man.
The suspect in these shootings was identified as 32-year-old Robert Newt. Newt had been previously arrested in early April 2021 in connection with another shooting incident where no one was injured. During that arrest, police found a semi-automatic "ghost gun" in his possession, an untraceable weapon assembled from parts purchased online. However, due to insufficient evidence, the District Attorney's Office did not file charges at that time, and Newt was released.
Following the May 15 shootings, Newt became the primary suspect. The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) linked him to the murders of both Haynes and Armstrong. Despite being in police custody just weeks before the fatal shootings, Newt was released pending further evidence, which highlighted the challenges faced by law enforcement in prosecuting cases that require forensic evidence. The SFPD made a public appeal for assistance in locating Newt, describing him as armed and dangerous and urging the public not to approach him but to report any sightings immediately.
The motives behind the killings of Haynes and Armstrong remain unclear, and the investigation into the circumstances surrounding their deaths continued. The case underscored the complexities and frustrations of the criminal justice system, particularly in cases involving untraceable firearms and the need for timely forensic evidence to secure prosecutions.
