Manhunt underway after two shot in San Francisco's Mission District

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ByAmy Hollyfield KGO logo
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Manhunt underway after two shot in SF's Mission District
San Francisco police are searching for a suspect accused of shooting two men at a bus stop in the Mission District Monday night.

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- San Francisco police are searching for a suspect accused of shooting two people at a bus stop in the Mission District Monday night.

Police are looking at surveillance video to find the person or people who fired several shots that injured two and damaged a dental office nearby.

The victims, ages 36 and 55, were struck by gunfire at 11:48 p.m. near the intersection of Mission and 24th streets.

One victim, who refused to cooperate with police, was shot in the leg. The other victim was struck in the chest, leg and foot.

The two men were taken to the hospital in stable condition and are expected to survive.

Residents trying to catch a bus Tuesday morning at 24th and Mission streets were greeted by crime tape roping off the bus shelter that no longer has glass because bullets shattered it. Two men who were inside the bus shelter were struck by the bullets.

It was a stark reminder of the violence that plagues this neighborhood. "It's a bad neighborhood, Mission is like from daylight to dark and in the daytime it's OK, but after dark you don't even want to be caught out," San Francisco resident Lacosta Stevens said.

Police are looking into whether it was gang related and who the intended target was.

Even if the attack was personal, it had quite an impact on the public. "I pulled the shade open, the blinds open and more glass falls and I look up and I see this huge hole," dental assistant Jasmine Payne said.

When Payne showed up at her dental office Tuesday morning, she discovered a bullet had pierced one of the windows. Her office is located across the street from where the shooting happened. "It was unsettling this morning, I was afraid," Payne said.

"My heart goes out to this community out here you know who has to deal with this type of incident. First of all, sorry for the businesses and people," Homey Executive Director Roberto Alfaro said.

Alfaro is trying to stop the violence in the Mission District with his non-profit group called HOMEY, an anti-gang group focusing on the youth. He says it's an uphill battle, but for every kid who avoids a gang, it's worth it. "There is progress being made. I think the community has come together in some really positive ways. You know we have an initiative called Road Maps to Peace and it's several different organizations who are looking at targeting the most disenfranchised group in our community," he said.

Click here for more information on HOMEY and their after school programs, which will be starting next week.

Anyone with information about the shooting is encouraged to call the Police Department's anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444 or to send a tip by text message to TIP411 with "SFPD" in the message.

Bay City News contributed to this story.