It was supposed to be a day of cheer at John Velasquez Salon (440 Jackson St.) in Jackson Square. Today is the salon's annual holiday party, when all of its clients are invited to pop in for a holiday toast and snacks.

But the party was invaded by an uninvited guest: a man with a face covered in tattoos and piercings, who smashed the glass out of the front door and tried to set a fire outside the salon.

"It was terrible; we were scared," said Pat Velasquez, John's wife. "We were screaming and screaming."





According to Pat, two employees had opened the salon that morning, locking the door to keep out a man who appeared to be a threat. They had customers when she and John pulled up to the door around 9:45am and saw the same man out front, kicking and pounding the glass on the front door.

He then grabbed the shop's A-frame wooden sign, hitting the glass with it until he smashed it. "There was glass everywhere," Pat said.

The man then saw what looked like a gas container in the back of John's truck, parked out front, and tried to light it on fire. Luckily, the container only held water. "He thought he was going to hurt us," Pat said, visibly shaken. "We were screaming and crying."

A crowd gathered to watch the mayhem unfold. Pat said the shop's employees called the police, and when they arrived, it took two officers to subdue the man.

SFPD told Pat that the suspect's name is Chance Davis. An employee searched for the name online, and found this Pinterest photo of his distinctive facial tattoos and piercings. Pat said no one at the shop had ever seen Davis in the neighborhood before, but she was told he'd been at The Station SF cafe (596 Pacific St.) earlier that day.

Central Station Capt. David Lazar confirmed the salon's report. Davis is in custody, and being treated for injuries at a local hospital. He will face felony charges of burglary, vandalism and terrorist threats, along with a misdemeanor for resisting arrest.

The salon didn't let the incident derail the party, putting out its spread as always.

Update: While the SFPD identified the suspect as Chance Davis, a September article in my San Antonio says that Davis has undergone a gender transition and now identifies as Mara Paradox. A mugshot from an arrest at that time is below. We'll update with more details from the police as we get them.

Photo via the Lubbock County Sheriff's Department