Home / Crime and Justice / Grandmother's Killer Faces Life in Prison
Grandmother's Killer Faces Life in Prison
26 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Man convicted of murder faces life without parole for brutal attack.
- Victim, 88, suffered severe injuries and died a year later.
- Defendant represented himself, denied charges, plans appeal.
Keonte Gathron, 25, is poised to receive a life sentence without parole for the murder of 88-year-old Yik Oi Huang. Gathron was convicted of murder, carjacking, and elder abuse following a two-week crime spree in January 2019. Huang was severely injured during an attack on her morning walk, suffering broken bones, and died a year later.
Authorities stated Gathron targeted victims of Asian descent or those with limited English proficiency. Huang's assault predated the surge in anti-Asian hate crimes during the pandemic, deeply unsettling the city's Asian American community. Gathron, representing himself, denied all charges and accused police of evidence manipulation.
Sentencing was postponed to allow Gathron to receive his presentence report. He faces two life sentences and over 30 years for various offenses. The family of Yik Oi Huang spoke of her hard work and dreams of a life in the U.S. The park where she was attacked was renamed in her honor.
