The Tenderloin is mourning a young man who spent his days keeping its most vulnerable residents alive.
What happened
San Francisco police say officers were called to the 800 block of Ellis Street at about 1:06 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, after a vehicle hit a pedestrian. Justin Randle, 25, was taken to a hospital and later died. The driver left before officers arrived. Investigators traced the car to Treasure Island, where CHP officers had stopped it for an unrelated traffic violation. Police arrested the woman driving it on suspicion of homicide.
No charges, for now
On Tuesday the San Francisco District Attorney's Office said it would not file charges. "Although the police had probable cause to make an arrest based on the evidence gathered," the office said, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, "we have determined that there is insufficient evidence to file criminal charges at this time." Prosecutors said they considered circumstances that could be relevant to self-defense, including evidence they cannot disclose. The woman has been released, Mission Local reports. SFPD says the investigation remains open.
Who he was
Randle worked at GLIDE as a community safety monitor, greeting visitors and responding to emergencies. KTVU reports he had recently been promoted to assistant manager at GLIDE's youth center. In a 2025 video cited by Mission Local, he said he had reversed seven overdoses with Narcan. "He embodied our values of radical inclusion and unconditional love in everything he did at GLIDE," said Rev. Dr. Gina Fromer. His great-aunt called him a "sweetheart of a young man" and a devoted father to his three sons. His family has started a GoFundMe for his children.