2 Charged in ‘Street Terrorism’ Murders Dating Back 20 Years in San Francisco Area

The two men—Sauntek Harris, 44, and Shaun Britton, 48—are scheduled to be arraigned on June 6.

San Francisco police officers respond to a crime on March 7, 2024. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

Two men face several murder charges in connection with multiple killings dating back more than 20 years in the San Francisco Bay Area, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced May 29.

Sauntek Harris, 44, and Shaun Britton, 48, are scheduled to be arraigned June 6 in San Francisco.

Prosecutors accused Harris and Britton of killing Perry Bradstreet on Jan. 18, 2002. According to the court complaint, Britton allegedly used a 9-millimeter MAC 11 military-style firearm, which is classified as an assault weapon.

Bradstreet was “robbed, carjacked, and fatally shot as he ran away,” said the department’s cold-case report. “His vehicle was set ablaze by the unknown suspect(s) and abandoned in the Oakdale Housing Project ... at 0230 hours.”

Britton is also accused of murdering Bradstreet for a criminal gang, and the killing was an act of “street terrorism,” according to the district attorney’s office.

Prosecutors also allege that on Feb. 24, 2002, Harris killed Lorenzo Richards with a 9-millimeter pistol. Richards was shot and killed inside an apartment complex on George Court at 4 a.m., according to his cold-case page.

The district attorney also alleged a third victim, Gerald White, was killed on July 28, 2002, with the same type of pistol. The office did not say which defendant is accused of the killing, but it cites allegations that White was a witness to a crime who was killed to prevent his testimony. A local NBC outlet reported that White was killed three days after he had been summoned to appear before a grand jury in the Bradstreet case.

Harris is also charged in connection with a fourth murder. According to court documents, prosecutors allege Harris murdered Dietrich Whitley while lying in wait on Aug. 10, 2019, using a 9-millimeter pistol.

Harris—also known as Sauntek Kincaid—was working at a local community center as a life coach at the time of Whitley’s murder, according to a local NBC outlet. Authorities said at the time that Harris allegedly spotted Whitley as he arrived at the center and then ducked behind two cars. He is accused of then firing at the victim, hitting him in the chest.

Harris was ordered to stand trial for the murder, but the case was dropped.

The district attorney’s office charged Harris with four counts of murder, including numerous allegations of personally and intentionally using a firearm in the crimes, and said the crimes constitute “street terrorism.”

Prosecutors added special circumstances to Harris’s charges, including that the murders were committed for a criminal street gang, and that he committed multiple murders.

San Francisco police officers respond to a call on May 24, 2022. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

He is also charged with possession of a firearm by a felon. If found guilty of special circumstances, California defendants can be given stronger sentences.

Britton was charged with one murder count, along with numerous allegations, including that he personally and intentionally used a firearm in the killing and the murder was committed for a street gang.

Jenkins’s office has requested that the defendants remain in custody.

“The District Attorney’s Office moved to have them detained pending trial due to the public safety risk they pose,” the office said in a press release.

Harris has two previous felony convictions, prosecutors reported. In 2004, he was convicted of having a concealed firearm and transporting, selling, and giving away a controlled substance.

The cases remain active investigations, according to the district attorney’s office.