A joyful block party in the Sunnydale public housing complex in Visitacion Valley turned tragic on Tuesday evening March 24, 2026 when gunfire erupted without warning around 10:43 p.m. in the heart of the San Francisco neighborhood. The gathering of music dancing and laughter in the residential area dissolved into chaos as shots rang out sending people diving for cover and screams filling the air.
San Francisco Police Department officers responded moments later to the scene in Sunnydale where they found 24-year-old Tertron “Troop” Johnson suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Paramedics worked quickly to save him but he died later at a nearby hospital. The shooting left friends and family in heartbreak over the sudden end to a night meant for celebration in Visitacion Valley.
Tertron “Troop” Johnson was remembered by those who knew him as a vibrant young man with a contagious smile and a gift for making people laugh. Friends described him as someone who filled every space with joy and light always bringing energy and connection to those around him in Sunnydale and the broader San Francisco community.
The loss of Johnson came on a night already darkened by another tragedy in San Francisco. Minutes earlier in the Sunset District a separate shooting near 22nd Avenue and Santiago Street claimed the life of 22 year old Samantha Katherine Emge a recent San Francisco State University graduate. The twin shootings within a short time frame intensified fears about gun violence across the city sending shockwaves through communities in Visitacion Valley and the Sunset District.
Johnson’s friends held a candlelit vigil in Sunnydale spelling out his nickname “Troop” in tealights next to prayer candles and a framed photo of him. The gathering offered a space for reflection and remembrance as loved ones shared stories of his positive impact and the joy he brought to those around him in the Visitacion Valley area. The community in Sunnydale and beyond has come together to honor his memory while grappling with the senseless violence that ended his life during the block party.
San Francisco Police Department officers continue their investigation into the shooting at the Sunnydale public housing complex urging anyone with information or video from the area around 10:43 p.m. to contact authorities. The case remains active with focus on the events that unfolded during the block party in Visitacion Valley. No arrests have been announced as detectives review evidence from the scene in this residential neighborhood.
The twin losses of Tertron “Troop” Johnson in Sunnydale and Samantha Katherine Emge in the Sunset District have prompted renewed calls for action against gun violence in San Francisco. Residents and local leaders have expressed sorrow over the young lives cut short on the same night highlighting the impact on families and communities across the city. Support networks have mobilized to aid those affected while the investigations into both shootings proceed in Visitacion Valley and the Sunset District.
