Violence erupted outside a San Francisco courtroom this morning following the first court appearance of two men accused of murdering a 57-year-old Bayview District man during a home invasion robbery earlier this week.
Eric Jordan, 38, and Gary Jones, 18, were arrested following the shooting of 57-year-old Dennis Dixon inside Dixon’s home in the 2000 block of Palou Avenue Tuesday night.
Following a tense hearing this morning in San Francisco Superior Court, during which members of the audience were repeatedly asked to be silent, Dixon’s family sparred with relatives of the suspects outside the courtroom.
Yelling led to punches being thrown.
Members of Dixon’s family were reportedly struck and a coffee drink was tossed in the air before numerous sheriff’s deputies broke the fight up and separately escorted both sides from the building.
No arrests were made following the emotional encounter, which left Dixon’s older brother sobbing on a bench outside the courtroom.
“He’s a good person,” Alton Dixon Jr., 57, said of his slain brother.
Dixon said he and his younger brother grew up in North Beach. He recalled their early years shining shoes and selling newspapers at Fisherman’s Wharf.
“He’s people-people, like me,” Dixon said. “We know how to reach out and touch people, with happiness and joy.”
Jordan, whose city of residence is not yet known, and Jones, of Richmond, agreed this morning to postpone their arraignment on charges of murder, robbery and burglary until Tuesday.
Jordan is additionally charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a gun, and Jones is charged with assault with a firearm for the alleged pistol-whipping of Dixon’s son during the robbery.
Prosecutor Linda Allen asked Judge Bruce Chan today to hold each man on $10 million bail.
Allen said both men forced their way into Dixon’s home before the shooting.
Police have said the shooting was preceded by a verbal altercation with Dixon.
Following the robbery and shooting, Allen said, police arrived within minutes and both men were apprehended at the scene.
Jones had tried to jump out the back window of the home before he was caught, Allen said.
According to Allen, Jones was allegedly found with some of Dixon’s possessions.
Chan agreed to set bail at $10 million each.
As the hearing ended and both families were leaving the courtroom, a female member of Dixon’s family tried to confront Jones before a deputy ordered her out.
“My brother was a good man!” she yelled. Jones did not respond.
Moments later, the altercation began outside.
Ari Burack, Bay City News
