Police Arrest Suspect in Golf Club Attack

Published on October 16, 2024

Palo Alto, CA – Police arrested a suspect Wednesday morning in connection with an attempted murder that occurred Monday afternoon. 

On Monday, October 14, 2024, at about 3:45 p.m., our 24-hour dispatch center received a call from a woman reporting that her boyfriend had just been attacked with a golf club along the creek embankment adjacent to the 2000 block of East Bayshore Road.  Officers immediately responded to the area and located a man who had sustained a major head injury.  Personnel from the Palo Alto Fire Department transported the victim to an area hospital for treatment and he is expected to survive. 

The investigation revealed that, at about 3:35 p.m., the woman and her boyfriend had been on the embankment when they were confronted by a male acquaintance holding a golf club.  The woman reported that the two men argued, at which time the acquaintance struck her boyfriend in the head with the golf club while threatening to kill him.  According to the woman, after the victim fell to the ground, the suspect picked up a nearby kitchen knife and, again, threatened to kill the victim.  When the woman intervened, the suspect reportedly fled on his bicycle. 

Detectives identified the suspect as 48-year-old Franco Serapio of Menlo Park.  Police obtained a probable cause arrest warrant for attempted murder and criminal threats (both felonies), as well as misdemeanor brandishing.  The suspect self-surrendered to the East Palo Alto Police Wednesday morning, at which time Palo Alto detectives took him into custody.  He was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail pursuant to the warrant.  His booking photograph appears above.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call our 24-hour dispatch center at(650) 329-2413. Anonymous tips can be e-mailed topaloalto@tipnow.orgor sent via text message or voicemail to(650) 383-8984.