SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A jury has convicted a man of murder after he stabbed two people in an encampment in San Francisco’s SoMa neighborhood two years ago.
Dennis Duree, 41, was found guilty of first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, and weapons charges, the District Attorney’s Office announced Friday.
“This verdict delivers justice to the surviving victim and to the friends and family of the victim who was tragically killed,” said District Attorney Brooke Jenkins in a statement.
In the early morning hours of Dec. 28, 2023, Duree fatally stabbed Brandon Mitchell and stabbed and injured a woman near the intersection of Washburn and Mission streets. The victims, whom Duree were acquainted with, had set up an encampment on a sidewalk.
Duree joined the victims on a mattress that has been set up on the sidewalk, where he allegedly began smoking “dope.” He then began accusing the victims of taking his “dope,” according to the District Attorney’s Office.
He walked away and spoke to an unidentified person in a nearby alley before returning to the encampment, where he began stabbing the victims.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ryan King.
“I would like to thank the jury for holding Mr. Duree accountable for taking Mr. Mitchell’s life and carrying out extreme violence against his companion,” King said in a statement.
Duree remains in custody, and his sentencing will be scheduled at a hearing on Jan. 29, 2026.
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