A man with a qathet region connection is alleged to have attacked U.S. house speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband Paul.
According to an online account from CNN, David DePape, 42, was identified by police on Oct. 28 as the suspect in the assault on Pelosi at the family’s San Francisco home.
A call was placed by the Peak to Gene DePape, David’s stepfather, who lives and works in the qathet region. Gene said he has not talked with David since 2003 and his last contact with him was when he tried to call in 2007.
“His ex-wife hung up on me and said he didn’t want to talk with anyone from his family,” said Gene. “Before that, the last time I saw him was 2003 and all was good.
“He was always a little reclusive but never in any trouble. He was never violent so this is out of character for him.”
Gene said that David only lived in Powell River for a few years, from 1994 to 1997, or the spring of 1998.
Gene said he has tried to contact the San Francisco Police Department and was told he could not speak to David. He said he is now concerned for David’s children.
According to the CNN account, Gene stated that David grew up in Powell River and left Canada about 20 years ago to pursue a relationship that brought him to California.
The Peak has also reached out to the suspect’s uncle, Mark DePape, but has not heard back.
David, according to CNN, had extensive social media posts, including Facebook, which has taken down the account. The Facebook account apparently had links that David had posted with links to videos about the 2020 US election, and websites claiming COVID-19 vaccines were deadly, according to CNN.
CNN also stated that David had posted links to YouTube videos regarding the Jan. 6, 2021, riot on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
The Peak has reached out to San Francisco’s police department and is awaiting a response.
San Francisco police chief William Scott spoke to reporters on October 28, and according to a C-SPAN video on YouTube, the following statement was made:
“At approximately 2:27 this morning, San Francisco police officers were dispatched to the residence of speaker Nancy Pelosi regarding a priority well-being check. When the officers arrived on scene, they encountered an adult male and Mrs. Pelosi’s husband Paul. Our officers observed Mr. Pelosi and the suspect both holding a hammer. The suspect pulled the hammer away from Mr. Pelosi and violently assaulted him with it. Our officers immediately tackled the suspect, disarmed him, took him into custody, requested emergency backup and rendered medical aid.
“The suspect has been identified as 42-year-old David DePape. Mr. Pelosi and Mr. DePape were transported to a local hospital for treatment. This is an active investigation currently being led by the San Francisco Police Department special investigations division. We are working closely with our partners from the FBI, the US Attorney’s Office, the US Capitol Police, and our district attorney here in San Francisco County and her team.
“The motive for this attack is still being determined. Mr. DePape will be booked at the San Francisco County Jail on the following charges: attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, burglary, and several other additional felonies.”
At his arraignment in San Francisco Superior Court on November 1, a public defender entered a not guilty plea for DePape, who was ordered to be held without bail.
Gene said he would like to thank the people and businesses in the qathet region for the ongoing support that has been received in these difficult times.
“Sometimes we have no say in what happens,” added Gene. “We just deal with the fallout.”
