Beloved aid worker who helped addicts, homeless shot to death by drug user in San Francisco

A man working as a street ambassador for a San Francisco nonprofit who was shot after confronting a drug user has died from his injuries. 60-year-old Joey Alexander was shot outside the Main Branch of the San Francisco Public Library in late September and passed away in a hospital on Tuesday.

Alexander worked for Urban Alchemy, a nonprofit contracted by the city that sends ambassadors into rough areas of San Francisco to deter criminal activity and discourage drug use, per KRON. Alexander had worked as an ambassador for two years. Edmund Brown, 42, was arrested by police and booked into jail on suspicion of homicide.  

Urban Alchemy spokesperson Jess Montejano said, "That was his beat, in front of the main library. He showed up to work every day when it was his shift." She said Alexander tried to get the suspect to stop using illicit drugs in the area because there were children near the library at the time. "The suspect didn’t like that, they exchanged some words, pulled a shotgun out of his bag, and shot him in the torso."

Per the San Francisco Chronicle, Alexander’s brother said he was shot in the leg at close range and underwent three surgeries, including to amputate his leg, but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.

Marvin Alexander, his brother, said, "It’s just so sad to me that you do all that time and come home … and then never have a problem until this one idiot comes along, and that’s all it ever takes, is one idiot. One nut comes by and pulls a stunt like that and kills my little brother. It’s just terrible. It’s a sad thing on both ends."

Alexander had served 23 years in prison but was released three years ago. Alexander, survived by his son and two brothers, had turned his life around and was dedicated to helping others do the same with their lives.