Neighborhood on edge despite police meeting on fatal Bernal Heights stabbing

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SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)-- A community meeting will be held this evening to discuss community safety concerns following the fatal stabbing last week of San Francisco resident Giovanny Alvarez.

Alvarez, 33, was discovered around 5:30 a.m. Thursday in Bernal Heights Park with multiple stab wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.

Police have released few details about the stabbing, but Supervisor Hillary Ronen said in a Facebook post that it was not thought to be random.

Extra patrols were put in place in and around the park after the stabbing.

Police are expected to share what is known about the murder and discuss community safety issues at the meeting.

The community meeting is scheduled to take place today at 6 p.m. at the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center at 515 Cortland Ave. Ronen and police officials are expected to attend.

Alvarez's family members have posted a GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/giovanny-alvarez-fund to cover burial costs and are asking anyone with information on the stabbing to step forward.

They described Alvarez as "passionate, artistic and funny."

"He was loved by many, his laughter brightened our day and he didn't deserve to die like he did," the GoFundMe page's message reads.

The fund had gathered $3,750 as of Tuesday afternoon.

Anyone with information about the stabbing is asked to call the San Francisco Police Department's anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444 or send a text to TIP411 and begin the message with "SFPD."