Dog-loving felon accused of pulling gun on man over Mission district pet beating
An animal-loving felon angry at how a man was treating his dog on a San Francisco street pulled out a gun and threatened to shoot him, according to prosecutors.
Levi Banks is accused of drawing a 9mm semi-automatic ‘ghost gun’ during the April 29 incident.
He will appear at the city’s Hall of Justice later today for trial.
The dispute began in the early evening at the intersection of 16th and Mission Streets where, court documents say, the victim and his dog were standing in front of Banks.
“You beat that dog, I’m going to shoot you!” Banks reportedly shouted at the victim after apparently witnessing him mistreating the canine.
Prosecutors say he pulled a pistol from his waistband to bolster his threat.
The gunman drove off in a Chevrolet Tahoe SUV which police found parked nearby with a loaded pistol hidden under the steering column. Banks was arrested walking in the vicinity.
“[Banks] is a threat to the safety of the victim and to public safety,” wrote assistant district attorney Rebecca Warren in a motion to detain.
Banks, 37, has previous convictions for home burglary in 2022 and for commercial burglary and firearms possession in 2023.
He will appear today in Department 22 of San Francisco Superior Court for trial, having earlier pleaded not guilty to making criminal threats and a battery of firearms charges.
He remains in custody after Judge Sylvia Husing denied a request for pretrial release.
The case continues.
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