Kenyatta Butler Jr., an 18-year-old from San Leandro, California, tragically lost his life on March 9, 2015, in a double homicide at the Crocker Amazon Playground in San Francisco. Butler and 19-year-old Donzel Gaines were found shot in the driver and passenger seats of a parked car in the Excelsior neighborhood on the 700 block of Moscow Street. Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
The incident occurred in the morning, around 9:36 a.m., when the teenagers were ambushed while sitting in a 2002 Chevrolet Camaro.
The investigation into the murders led to the arrest of two suspects, Davante Robinson and Gregory Morton III, both 21 years old. The arrests were made on March 26, 2015, following a collaborative effort between the San Francisco Police Department, Daly City Police Department, and the San Francisco Police Department’s Ingleside Station and Gang Task Force unit. Robinson and Morton were charged with the murders of Butler and Gaines. The police have not released any information regarding the possible motive behind the shootings.
Robinson was initially arrested for driving a stolen vehicle that was linked to the double homicide. He faced charges of unlawful driving or taking of a vehicle and receiving stolen property. The arrests were a significant development in the case, but the investigation remained active, with authorities continuing to seek additional information from the public.
The deaths of Kenyatta Butler Jr. and Donzel Gaines were part of a broader issue of violence in the area, prompting community members to call for increased safety measures and support for anti-violence programs. The tragic loss of these young lives highlighted the urgent need for addressing the root causes of violence and providing better opportunities for youth in the community.
