O’Keeffe’s Bar on the corner of 5th and Balboa is usually about as quiet as they come for neighborhood bars.
But in the early hours of Tuesday morning, an unruly patron was escorted from the bar. A short time later around 1:12am, he returned with a handgun and fired one shot through a closed window of the occupied bar.
The Richmond District Police Station reports that no one was injured, and officers arrived quickly and arrested the suspect. He was booked at County Jail on several assault and weapons charges.
One neighbor who lives across the street said that “one officer bravely caught the guy on his own without firing a shot. It was well handled. A minute later 5-8 cars responded too.”
Sarah B.
Couldn’t have picked a worse bar considering it’s about a 5 minute walk from the 6th ave police station!
I’ll be the first to suggest some anger management classes for the accused.
That said I think this bar is one of the seediest looking bars in town. And I don’t say that in a derogatory fashion. It’s got a classic look on the street corner. While I’m sure the neighborhood doesn’t appreciate that look but I think it’s a winner. I’d never want to replace it with a Starbucks.
This is one of my favorite bars ever! Scary, but so glad no one was hurt!
Very sobering….
I’ve always wondered if this was a real bar, or not . . . maybe just some old signage? Guess not and now I must go there.
Nice long time local,good people.Very surprising ,can’t believe neighborhood guy did that.
Annie O’Keefe, the owner, is one of the classiest ladies I’ve ever met. Having actually been to seedy bars, O’Keefe’s is not! Annie doesn’t take any “shite” as the Irish say. It’s full of progressive memoribilia from the US and Ireland from the 60s to present.
@Richmond Resident your comment is unfairly judgemental. Perhaps another shiny new wine bar is more up your alley? Something bland and boring that won’t attract that whole beer and whiskey crowd?
That said, I’m glad everyone was ok.
If only someone else had had a gun and been able to stop this mad-man before he killed… oh, wait. Turns out more guns aren’t needed after all!
Irregular hours and lack of beer on tap make me not want to go there. With people shooting out the windows I will continue to steer clear. It’s too bad, because I might otherwise pop in and have a drink.
Glad no one was hurt, at any rate.
“One officer bravely caught the guy on his own without firing a shot. It was well handled.”
I’m glad the Richmond branch isn’t using excessive force to apprehend criminals. Well done! We don’t need anymore police drama especially in our neighborhood.
And O’keefe’s…. What a gem! Love their juke, the neighborhood vibe and of course, Bob and owner, Annie!
@PC stick to your fancy beer tapping bars. maybe the new trendy bars are more your speed? All in all, it’s your loss! O’keefe’s is a diamond in the rough and neighborhood staple.
I’m pretty sure the guy wasn’t a regular. He was unstable for sure – hollering outside for an hour that he wasn’t a “punk”. Well I guess he decided a punk was exactly what he was . . .
I’ve lived near the bar for 15 years and I’ve never even seen fists fly. The bars on Geary get police attention regularly. Annie keeps a tight ship. I’m glad nobody was hurt and that the cops didn’t have to kill him.
I second those who commend our fine Richmond District Police for a job, bravely done and well executed.
Also want to second that O’Keefe’s is a very fine establishment with friendly staff and customers. That this happened there feels rather random.
Hi Annie
Maura here from the rock bar.
Saw your story on facebook I was glad to hear nobody was hurt ,you got great praises on facebook of your bar and got a great write up Annie you are a wonderful woman and I hope this event gives you lots of support from the public it seems to be much like The Rock Bar it looks a fine bar ,how are things with you ? Greetings from Newmarket and Happy Paddy’s Day .Now you will all know where to wet the shamrock .
This is a great spot many a night I spent in there with Annie and the staff and the murphy family
hi annie hope every one is dkay hope to see you all soon pat mac
If the guy had been black he would have been dead within 10 seconds of the police arriving. No joke. White, they talk you down, black they blast away.
Chris – That is usually unfortunately the case.
But are you certain this perp isn’t black?
he was black.
Chris –
Hyperbolize much? So every time a black guy has a run in with the police and has a gun, the police kill him??? If that were truly the case, then tens of thousands of black males would be dead every year. Consider how many black males are arrested for firearms every year in San Francisco and Oakland alone. Dozens? Hundreds? More? And the police kill them all, right?
Mike –
Chris’ hyperbole aside, black men do have more to fear from cops than white men. I get his point. I saw this incident and I’m glad the police gave this drunk/crazy thug a chance to surrender.