SF mayor was 'worried' about 2 men on street, checked on them before bodyguard attack

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Multiple angles covered a dramatic altercation between one of San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie's security detail and individuals on the street minutes after he approached them Thursday evening.

Mayor Lurie said he was driving through the Tenderloin Thursday evening and noticed two men that seemed like they needed help. He stopped and got out of his car to speak to them.

"I was worried about them, you know, safety of pedestrians and cars coming. So, I stopped. We asked them to get up and the incident began," said Mayor Lurie. "The two that were in the middle of a street, I said, 'you need to get up' and then there was another person that was passed out, and I went to check on him and make sure, frankly, that he was breathing and alive and he was."

The mayor's bodyguard was seen on the ground struggling with an individual. Seconds later, more police reinforcement arrived. One resident who wants to remain anonymous but shared a video of the incident, said the mayor went to get more help. Mayor Lurie confirmed that and acknowledged the crisis on the streets.

"We still have a long way to go. We have a lot of work to do. I walk the Tenderloin. I walk the Mission, I walk SoMa, and I've told everybody- we have more work to do and that was evidence by what happened last night, but we're still one of the safest American cities. Lowest homicide rate last year," said Mayor Lurie.

The altercation happened outside of Jane, a coffee shop that has been in the neighborhood for over a decade. Even though they were closed during the time of the altercation the owner said incidents of this type are not uncommon.

"This stuff happens a lot. Not on a daily basis, but probably a couple times a week. We have different types of altercations with people on the street," said Amanda Michael, owner of Jane.

The mayor is known for walking the streets of the city and seeing the need up close - something Amanda Michael says she appreciates but pointed to this area needing more help.

"What do you hope to see change?" ABC7 Eyewitness News reporter Luz Pena asked.

INTERACTIVE: Take a look at the ABC7 Neighborhood Safety Tracker

"I don't think it's only you that we would love to see a little bit more supervision in terms of like the chaos management. And it would be really great to see more of a focus on treatment instead of just putting people in shelters, but actually giving to the cause," said Michael.

One of the individuals who attacked the mayor's security details was arrested on suspicion of murder in 2019 but was not charged. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said that case took place when DA George Gascon was in office. Jenkins confirmed her office is looking into Thursday's incident closely.

"It's frightening and we want to make sure that we are doing everything to, protect, not only city officials, but anyone. We have to make sure, that there's accountability when people do the things that were done last night," said District Attorney Jenkins.

District Attorney Jenkins said her team is reviewing the case.

The police bodyguard who was attacked is set to recover from his head injury. Mayor Lurie said what happened Thursday evening won't change what he typically does - which is to walk the streets of San Francisco and see the need up close.