Police arrest suspect after hate graffiti damages Pacific Heights church and nearby city property in San Francisco

Arrest follows early-morning report of antisemitic and homophobic vandalism

San Francisco police arrested a 51-year-old man Saturday after officers responded to reports of hate-motivated vandalism at a church in Pacific Heights, authorities said.

Officers were dispatched at about 8:45 a.m. on Feb. 28, 2026, to the 2800 block of California Street. At the scene, police found church buildings and nearby city utilities marked with fresh paint, including swastikas and other antisemitic and homophobic language.

The suspect was identified as Sadat Mousa, 51, police said. Investigators established probable cause and took him into custody. Police estimated property damage exceeding $20,000.

Charges include felony vandalism with a hate-crime enhancement

Mousa was booked into San Francisco County Jail on multiple charges, including felony vandalism with a hate-crime enhancement, police said. The case remains under investigation.

• When: Saturday morning, Feb. 28, 2026

• Where: 2800 block of California Street, San Francisco

• Allegations: Antisemitic and homophobic graffiti on church buildings and city utilities

• Estimated damage: More than $20,000

• Status: Arrest made; investigation ongoing

Police said the vandalism included swastikas and other antisemitic and homophobic words painted on the church and adjacent public infrastructure.

What investigators are likely to focus on next

With an arrest made the same morning the vandalism was reported, investigators will typically work to document the full extent of damage, collect and preserve evidence from the scene, and assess whether additional incidents are connected through timing, materials used, or similar markings. Hate-crime enhancements generally require prosecutors to prove the underlying offense and that it was motivated, in whole or in substantial part, by bias against a protected group.

Police asked anyone with information related to the incident to contact investigators. The case number provided by police is 260-115-376.

Community impact and the security challenge for houses of worship

Vandalism targeting religious sites can carry broader community consequences beyond physical damage, including disruption of services, added security costs, and heightened concerns among congregants and neighbors. In San Francisco, faith institutions and LGBTQ community spaces have periodically reported threats and vandalism, prompting calls for faster reporting, coordinated cleanup, and preventive measures such as improved lighting, cameras, and neighborhood watch-style coordination.

Police have not released additional details about a possible motive beyond the content of the graffiti, and no further suspects were announced as of Saturday evening.