District Attorney Harris comments
on murder of San Francisco witness

Bay City News Service

May 6, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) - San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris released a statement yesterday in the wake of Thursday's murder of a man who was in the witness protection program the district attorney's office administers for the state of California.

Authorities identified the victim as 22-year-old Terrell Rollins.

"This homicide of another young person in San Francisco is a horrible tragedy. This was cold-blooded murder, and there is no justification for what happened. The victim did the right thing by coming forward and testifying, but for reasons unknown at this time, he left witness protection and returned to a dangerous situation. Our investigators are working closely with SFPD, and we are doing all that we can to make sure that the individuals who committed this act are brought to justice," Harris said.

Authorities explaining the program said it is voluntary and provides armed security to participants, who are relocated to safe places.

Investigators visit with participants weekly and people in the program are advised protection is available should they need to visit anywhere considered too dangerous for them to be alone.

Rollins was reportedly moved outside the city for his own safety and had been warned his life was at risk if he returned.

He was shot dead at an auto repair shop in the 200 block of Bayshore Boulevard between Oakdale and Jerrold avenues Thursday morning.

According to San Francisco police Officer Maria Oropeza, Rollins and another customer were inside the shop around 10:15 a.m. when two or three gunmen walked in, shot them both and fled.

"It appears they were targeted," Oropeza said.

The second man was shot in the leg and suffered non-life-threatening injuries, San Francisco police Neville Gittens said today.

Police and prosecutors in the past have expressed frustration that their murder investigations and prosecutions have been thwarted by witnesses too afraid to come forward.

Police encourage anyone with information on the incident to call the department's anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444.

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