Man killed at South San Francisco gym with steel bar used for weightlifting

A MAN has been charged with murdering another gym member after he savagely struck him “several times” in the head with a steel bar used for weightlifting.

Kenneth Osako, 46, of South San Francisco, has been refused bail after being charged in connection with the murder of Diego Galindo at Bally Total Fitness.

Osako, a 46-year-old plumber, got into a fight at the gym with Galindo at around 9.30pm, before he “used a solid steel bar, normally used to lift weights, to strike the victim on his head several times,” police said.

Immediately after the fatal attack, Osako dropped it and fled the scene. He was later arrested by South San Francisco police and a special agent with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Felipe Mendes, who works the gym’s front desk, told, SFGate.com that a maintenance worker witnessed the victim talking to a woman before the attack.

“I think he saw the other guy talking to her, flirting with her, and I think he got really angry, came up from behind and hit him in the head with a bar we use for tricep dips,” Mendes said. Workers said the suspect “gets jealous a lot,” he said.

Both Osako and the victim are longtime members of the gym.

But police are still interviewing people to try and establish the motive for the sudden attack on Galindo.

Galindo, who was a butcher, was described by family and friends as “a kid with a body of an adult, but a kid at heart”.

The suspect’s father, Kenneth Osako Sr., said he was hoping that his son would call him and explain what occurred.

“I just hope he gives us a call and let us know what happened,” he told NBCBayArea.com

When asked if he would support his son Mr Osako Sr. said: “No, if he’s guilty, he’s guilty. I don’t support anybody that’s wrong.”

Osako is being held without bail at San Mateo County Jail until Monday when he is expected to face court.