Four Suspected Drug Dealers Arrested After Tragic Teen Overdose in San Francisco

San Francisco’s homicide detectives have taken four men into custody, accusing them of supplying the synthetic opioid cychlorphine that killed 16‑year‑old Dante Lacourte earlier this spring. The arrests, announced by Police Chief Derrick Lew on Monday, came after months of painstaking investigative work that began in Dante’s bedroom.

Dante’s mother, Christina Lacourte, told reporters she found her son unresponsive on the floor of his room when she went to wake him for school. “It just takes one pill,” she whispered, her voice shaking. The pill, investigators say, contained cychlorphine—a drug up to ten times stronger than fentanyl—plus a second, even more lethal opioid called isotonitazene.

Detectives first traced the counterfeit pill by cataloguing the tiny residue left in the teenager’s trash and then combing through his phone records. Their search zeroed in on a small network of sellers operating out of the Tenderloin and surrounding neighborhoods. Undercover officers posed as buyers, purchasing batches that were later linked back to the four suspects.

Last week, the SFPD executed raids on three homes, seizing more than 20,000 pills that tested positive for cychlorphine, isotonitazene, counterfeit Xanax, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and even cyclobenzaprine. The police also recovered 68.5 grams of MDMA, 6.5 grams of black‑tar heroin, a semi‑automatic assault rifle, a pistol, and $2,267 in cash.

The first two arrests were made on September 8, when officers detained 46‑year‑old Nicholas Wallace at his O’Farrell Street apartment and seized 34 pills believed to be oxycodone along with a small stash of cocaine. A day later, 44‑year‑old parolee Sharonee Hyson was apprehended after officers found 11.7 grams of cocaine base and a loaded handgun in his possession.

On September 9, the police moved on the homes of 46‑year‑old Leander Pitts and 39‑year‑old Starr Lamare. Inside, they uncovered the massive cache of pills, weapons, and cash described above. All four men have been booked at the San Francisco County Jail on charges ranging from possession with intent to sell narcotics to illegal firearm possession.

DEA Special Agent in Charge Bob Beris reminded the public that cychlorphine is still a relatively new threat, first identified in the United States in 2024. “It can be mixed into pills, powder, or even cocaine,” Beris explained. “Just because we haven’t seen every possible combination yet doesn’t mean it isn’t out there.” He added that the drug resists standard overdose reversal agents like Narcan, often requiring multiple doses to have any effect.

Health officials warn that the combination of cychlorphine and isotonitazene—a synthetic opioid up to 100 times more potent than fentanyl—creates a perfect storm for accidental overdose. The San Francisco Health Department issued an alert after Dante’s death, urging anyone who suspects they have taken a counterfeit pill to seek immediate medical help.

Mayor Daniel Lurie has pledged additional resources to combat the surge of ultra‑potent synthetics flooding the city, while community groups continue to push for broader access to drug‑checking services. “Even a single pill can contain a lethal dose,” Chief Lew reiterated, “and we will keep pursuing every lead until these dangerous substances are removed from our streets.”