Terrifying ordeal of San Francisco criminal kidnapped at gunpoint then bound, gagged and hooded during convenience store dash for zip ties and tape
A man accused of the gunpoint kidnapping of a rival, whom he then took shopping for zip ties and tape to bind and gag him, prompting concerned employees at one store to call the police, will appear in a San Francisco courtroom this morning.
Prosecutors say Jason Tautua, 22, confronted his victim in front of Mosser Towers, on Turk Street in the heart of the city’s Tenderloin neighborhood, just after 11pm on July 16 2026.
According to court documents, Tautua drew a gun from his waistband, racked it, pressed it against the other man’s back and told him “you are coming with me”.
This began an extraordinary episode in which the victim was led by his captor to a succession of late night convenience stores, where kidnapping supplies were obtained and used to tie him up.
The victim was marched into the Superette convenience store, with his wrists bound, where Tautua is said to have requested more tape from staff, which they helpfully provided, only to see it placed over the mouth of the victim and wrapped around his head. A hood was then placed on his head.
This prompted employees to call the police. On arrival, the victim ran towards officers with his wrists still bound and asked for help. Cops later found that the victim was himself armed with a .22 semi-automatic pistol. Shortly afterwards they found Tautua who had by that point already changed his clothes and disposed of the gun police say he used in the kidnapping.
The victim – a 39-year-old whose rap sheet includes several burglary, drugs and property crime arrests – is also facing charges over his firearm and has been released. He has previously benefitted from ‘primary caregiver diversion’ in his superior court cases.
“The defendant armed himself with a firearm and obtained tape and threatened the victim with a firearm and forced the victim to walk to multiple locations at gunpoint so defendant could restrain the victim and tie him up and prevent him from yelling for help,” wrote assistant district attorney Rebecca Warren in a motion to detain.
“[Tautua] placed the victim at risk of great bodily injury or death and…was willing to use deadly force when he controlled the victim at gunpoint and silenced and bound him. [He] also placed employees of businesses and bystanders at risk of violence.”
Tautua, who has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping, will appear today at San Francisco Hall of Justice for a preliminary hearing at which a judge will determine if the evidence is sufficient to allow the case to go to trial.
The case continues.
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