Rhea Mahbubani

One Arrested in Connection With Australian Tourist's Homicide at San Francisco Hotel

San Francisco police on Saturday arrested one person in connection with the homicide of a 33-year-old Australian tourist at a Russian Hill hotel one day prior.

The victim, identified by the San Francisco Medical Examiner's Office as Matthew Bate, was killed around 2 a.m. Friday in the vicinity of the Da Vinci Villa hotel on the 2500 block of Van Ness Avenue, police said.

Police said they had detained two people in the hours after the killing. They have not provided any additional suspect information.

Bate got into a verbal altercation with someone, but it quickly turned physical. The victim sustained injuries during the scuffle and was taken to a hospital, where he died, according to police. They do not believe any weapons were used in the fight.

Bate lived in Woolner, a suburb of Darwin. He was an analytical chemist with SGS Australia, which offers a range of testing and certification services to businesses.

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was providing Bate's family with consular assistance.

Footage from the hotel showed crime tape, a number of evidence markers near clothes and a pair of sunglasses, and investigators taking photographs of the scene.

Police said there is cause for concern about public safety.

An investigation is ongoing.

People with information are asked to call San Francisco Police Department at 415-553-0123.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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