Three dead, several injured after shooting in South San Francisco

[News_Editor]

Three dead, several injured after shooting in South San Francisco

2010-12-24 10:26:59 GMT+7 (ICT)

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO (BNO NEWS) -- Three people were killed and several others were injured after a shooting in South San Francisco, California on Wednesday night, police said on Thursday.

South San Francisco police officers responded to the area of Eighth Lane and Linden Avenue at approximately 7.15 p.m. local time on Wednesday after a report of multiple gunshots fired and numerous injured victims. Upon arrival, officers located six gunshot victims, ranging in age from 15 to 20 years old.

Two of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while the four others were transported to San Francisco General Hospital. One of the injured passed away on Thursday afternoon, raising the death toll to three. The other injured are in a stable condition.

Witnesses at the scene described the suspects as three Hispanic males in a dark-colored early 2000-model Chevrolet Impala with tinted windows. "The The South San Francisco Police Department and San Mateo County Gang Intelligence Unit are actively pursuing leads in the case," police said in a news release.

On Thursday, the San Mateo County Coroner's Office identified the first two victims as 18-year-old Omar Cortez and 19-year-old Gonzalo Avalos. The identity of the third victim was not immediately released.

Few details about what led to the deadly shootings were immediately known, but police are investigating the possibility that the shootings were gang-related.

"This is a sad day for South San Francisco," said South San Francisco Mayor Kevin Mullin. "We pray for the victims and our thoughts are with the victims' families as they endure this tragedy."

Mullin pledged the full resources of the city would be brought to bear to apprehend the gunmen. "We will step up police presence in this particular neighborhood, which has experienced gang activity in recent years, and our police department will continue its full participation in the county-wide gang task force," he said.

Mullin added: "The cycle of violence must be stopped and it will take the efforts of an entire community to do so. The city will continue to reach out and engage families in this neighborhood to develop solutions to this violence."

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