San Francisco jurors today convicted a 20-year-old man of murder for the killing of a father of six during a marijuana robbery in the city in 2008.
Gregory Chapman, 46, was found shot near the intersection of Plymouth Avenue and Broad Street on May 13, 2008, according to police and prosecutors.
Yang, who police say was an associate of the Broke Niggas Thievin’ street gang, was indicted in March as part of a crackdown against suspected members and associates of the gang for a series of robberies and murders in recent years, including Chapman’s.
Yang was also arrested for gun possession in October 2008 while driving with two known BNT members, police said. Gang charges were not filed against him in the Chapman murder case.
Police were able to link Yang to the murder after finding his DNA on Chapman’s broken eyeglasses inside Chapman’s van, according to prosecutor Linda Allen. Chapman was a driver for a private transportation company serving disabled persons.
Yang testified at the trial that he was present for the robbery but that another man fired the gun, Allen said.
Allen said it was unclear who had been the actual shooter. Under the state’s felony-murder rule, someone who participates in a robbery that ends in a murder can still be found guilty of the murder.
The jury took less than a day to convict Yang today of first-degree murder and robbery. He faces 26 years to life in prison and is due back in court June 30 to set a sentencing date.
