At just before 1 a.m. on Saturday, approximately five shots were fired at 16th and Valencia, in front of the 22 bus stop on the northeast corner, according to police and witnesses.
No one was injured, according to officers, but dozens of people were present at the time the shots were fired. Ten minutes later, five squad cars were at the scene and officers had roped off a section of this heavily trafficked Mission intersection.
It is not clear if police have any suspects in the incident.
“I heard bang-bang-bang,” said Carl Giaraffa, who was directly across the street from where the shooting took place.
“People started ducking and falling on the ground.”
“People just spread,” said a 29-year-old female witness who wished to remain nameless. “It was chaotic.”
Both she and Giaraffa said there appeared to be one shooter. Some witnesses said it seemed as if the shots came from a car, or that the suspect took off in a car. Officer W. Morales said the investigation was in the preliminary stages and it is not clear if this was a drive-by shooting.
Sgt. Mike Andraychak said Saturday morning that police are still investigating the incident. They found six bullet casings and are looking for two suspects, one 18 to 20 years old. The suspects may have been in a gray Toyota. Anyone with information should call the anonymous tip line.
Many witnesses said there were five shots, which corresponded with the five bullet shells outlined in chalk on the street in front of the bus stop.
A red Honda that was parked outside Esta Noche was hit in the shooting, and police officers were inspecting signs of entry in walls outside Al Hamra restaurant.
The red Honda belongs to a worker at Panchita’s. Her aunt, Rosa Campos, said she heard the shots from inside the restaurant as she was working.
“People ran inside and we shut the door,” Campos said.
“I laid down on the floor right away,” said Carlos Beltran, a witness who was outside and heard the shots. “I was a little scared, because the bullets could fly anywhere.”
Curious and nervous partygoers walking in the vicinity questioned strangers and officers about the busy scene, which resembled the scene of another shooting on a bustling Friday night in November, just down the street.
Walking around the crime scene, one woman called out to her friend to get home safe. “There was just a shooting!” she said.
“Good thing we weren’t here,” said one man to his buddy.
“Wow, that’s pretty crazy,” said a young woman when she heard the news. Then she ducked under the yellow tape and continued on her way.
We will continue to update this article as we receive more information.
This story should have noted that the Mission District Station is only a block away from the shooting.
Heard em on 15th and Dolores.