Man charged with attempted murder in brutal unprovoked stabbing in SF Chinatown

A man accused of sneaking up behind a victim and sinking a knife into his back in San Francisco’s Chinatown has been charged with attempted murder, prosecutors said Monday.

Jian Feng Huang, 37, allegedly carried out the unprovoked brazen March 5 attack near Stockton and Sacramento streets, leaving the victim bleeding out on the ground in the bustling neighborhood, according to the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office.

Police responding to the scene had found the victim lying on the pavement with a stab wound, authorities said. Witnesses told investigators a chilling story: Huang allegedly approached the victim from behind and jammed a blade into his back before running away from the scene. The attack occurred as the man was waiting to cross the street. 

Nearby business surveillance footage reportedly corroborated the witness accounts, showing Huang seemingly striking the victim without any prior interaction or provocation.

The victim and the suspect reportedly knew each other.

Huang faces attempted murder charges, with an allegation that he personally used a deadly weapon and personally inflicted great bodily injury on the victim.

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins moved quickly to keep the alleged knife-man off the streets, and announced Huang is behind bars and held without bail. At a press conference on Monday, Jenkins announced the victim is in the hospital “trying to recover from very serious injuries.”

He remains in custody and is expected back in court for arraignment Tuesday morning at the Hall of Justice.