Kevin Xu Charged With Felony Assault, ID'ed As Greg Knapp Driver

DANVILLE, CA — Kevin Xu, a 24-year-old Danville man accused of assaulting his father, was charged with two felony assaults and three misdemeanors, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday. A representative from the DA’s office also confirmed to Patch that Xu was investigated in 2021 as the driver who fatally struck NFL coach Greg Knapp while he was riding his bike.

Xu was arraigned in Contra Costa Superior Court Wednesday, according to the DA. He is charged with assault with a deadly weapon and assault by means likely to produce great bodily harm. He is also charged with the misdemeanors of resisting arrest, battery, and aggravated trespassing.

On Jan. 20 at around 2:20 p.m., Xu was exiting his home on Glasgow Circle when he saw his father walking toward a neighbor’s home, according to the DA. Xu is estranged from his family and does not live with them. His father has expressed to police that he is afraid of his son due to “erratic” behavior, and fled down the street calling for help as his son pursued him. When Xu caught up with his father, he allegedly struck him several times, causing multiple serious injuries.

On Jan. 8, Xu was reportedly sitting on a sidewalk when a neighbor asked him to leave, according to the DA. Xu allegedly followed the neighbor into the garage and tried to gain entry into their home. The neighbor and another family member were able to stop Xu from forcing his way into the home, and called 911 shortly afterward.

On Jan. 20, Xu evaded police capture, but was found the following morning on Grassland Court after an extensive search. He is currently in custody on a $117,000 bail, and could face up to seven years in state prison.

Xu was also involved in a fatal collision with NFL coach Greg Knapp in July 2021, according to the DA and lawsuit records obtained by Danville San Ramon.

“Regarding the 2021 case, San Ramon PD did refer a PC192(c)(1) - Vehicular Manslaughter charge to our office in September 2021, but we did not file due to lack of sufficient evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt,” DA spokesperson Ted Asregadoo told Patch.

The DA attributed the collision to distracted driving rather than criminal intent, according to multiple reports. Authorities said Xu was looking at his phone rather than holding it, a crucial legal distinction.

Xu is also a co-defendant in a civil case filed by Knapp’s family on Jan. 24, 2023, according to records obtained by Danville-San Ramon. The City of San Ramon is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit, and is accused of creating unsafe bike lanes.

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