Ermias Kassaye, a 26-year-old resident of San Francisco, was shot and killed on June 28, 2012, near his home in the Ingleside neighborhood. Kassaye was returning from soccer practice in Oakland when he was attacked. The shooting was carried out execution-style at the intersection of Mount Vernon Avenue and Howth Street. His family believes the incident could have been a case of mistaken identity, as Ermias was found with all his belongings intact.
Ermias was passionate about soccer and hoped to use his skills to help orphaned children in Ethiopia. He had been attending City College since 2005, aspiring initially to become a firefighter, before later turning his ambitions toward soccer coaching. His tragic death left his friends and family shocked, as they remembered him as a kind and ambitious young man dedicated to both his studies and community. To honor his memory, the Ermias Foundation was established, focusing on his vision to aid underprivileged children in Ethiopia through soccer.
Police believe the suspect was a six-foot-tall man with dreadlocks, who was seen fleeing the scene in a Pontiac car accompanied by an SUV. Despite these details, the case remains unsolved, and his family continues to seek justice, holding a candlelight vigil every month in his memory.
