Updated Wednesday, 10:15 p.m.
The SFPD announced after 10 p.m. Wednesday that it had obtained video footage and released images of “a person of interest” in a fatal shooting that occurred 12 hours earlier on a Muni train traveling between Forest Hill and Castro stations.
A 27-year-old victim was killed, and a 70-year-old victim was transported to the hospital, according to a police statement released Wednesday night. The male shooter, meanwhile, purportedly fled when the train arrived at Castro station at Market and Castro streets around 10 a.m.
District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar tweeted this morning that the suspect is not considered an active shooter, but is still at large. In a statement released by her office later this morning, Melgar said that the suspect and the victim who died were in a “heated verbal argument,” which escalated to the “senseless death of a young life.”
Witnesses heard three or four gunshots as the train left the Forest Hill station, Melgar said, and a 70-year-old bystander was hit in the knee.
According to the San Francisco Police Department, officers responded to the Forest Hill Muni station at 9:56 a.m. following reports of a shooting, but when they arrived, the train had left the station towards the Castro District. Officers then headed to the Castro station, but the shooter had apparently fled by the time they arrived.
The suspect fled
2
Castro Station
Inner Sunset
from Castro Station.
1
A suspect shot two victims,
Mission
killing one and hospitalizing
another, on the train between
Forest Hill and Castro Station.
Forest Hill Station
The suspect fled
2
from Castro Station.
Inner Sunset
Mission
1
A suspect shot two victims,
killing one and hospitalizing
another, on the train between
Forest Hill and Castro Station.
Chart by Will Jarrett. Basemap from Mapbox.
The SFPD has begun an investigation into the shooting, and the underground travel had been temporarily suspended this morning between the two stations.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said Wednesday afternoon that it was still working to identify the victim.
“We have too many guns out there. Too, too many,” wrote Melgar in a later tweet this morning.
SFPD spokesperson Allison Maxie said in a statement that the shooting did not appear to be connected to Pride festivities or targeting the LTBTQ community.
SFMTA spokesperson Erica Kato confirmed police activity at Castro station, but declined to comment on the incident. Due to the suspended train lines, Kato said bus shuttle service was transporting people between West Portal and Castro stations.
The quiet, residential area between Forest Hill and the Castro rarely sees gun violence. San Francisco’s most recent prior shooting took place on June 19 in the Marina District, another area where shootings are unusual.
This is a breaking story and will be updated. Anyone with information is asked to call the SFPD tip line at 1-415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD.
Crime is trauma and the county offers different services, which can be found here. Victims of violent crime can also contact the Trauma Recovery Center at UCSF.
The SFPD’s data on crime can be found here.
Also Read
Victim identified in S.F. train shooting
Nesta Bowen, 27, was killed after being shot Wednesday morning on a Muni train moving between Forest Hill and Castro stations, according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Bowen and another man had been in a verbal argument, according to District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar, who tweeted about the incident and released a…
Too many people can’t handle an argument, which is from lack of being schooled by some decent adults.
Bad guys will always have guns. I guess politicians think criminals are law abiding citizens and won’t arm themselves because it’s illegal to do so. Simple solution is allow the police to do their job. Let them start with Stop and Fisk and see how many guns they take away from criminals. For every gun taken that can be 1 life saved.
Only a police force that has been largely inactive the last 2 years due to becoming complacent about the overwhelming amount of crime in the City could blunder capturing a murder suspect trapped on a train in a tunnel.
Hopefully you have not intentionally used a moniker so close to the one I have been using. Maybe it’s coincidence, maybe it’s Maybeline.
S.F. is not amuned to violence. It never has been no matter where you live or zip code. It was just a time when it wasn’t as bad as now. I’ve lived in S F. Since 1950. The violence started more in the early 90s. It became about drugs, guns, and housing being lost. And ppl. Being shuffled out of their homes, that they have been in since the 40s, or more. Now violence is 24/7. Marina areas, tourists areas of the city are now seeing alot of violence. I’m very surprised myself, that market street and union streets are still thriving with all the violence going on. SF will never be the beautiful city by the bay anymore. Crowds in the city, makes it worse. I love my home. Have lived here all my life. Unless a big change takes place. It will only get worse… and you can Genetiforcation all you want. This only makes it worse.
Prediction:
A community meeting will be called with the air of great seriousness.
Already reported details of the incident will be regurgitated.
No other information will be forthcoming as this is an active investigation.
The assembled functionaries will try to look engaged as locals spout off about their pet peeves.
The phrase “community policing” will make an appearance.
The end.
People will be allowed to be heard.
City officials will validate people’s feelings.
Slightly misleading to use a photo of 22nd and Folsom to illustrate a shooting that took place in the twin peaks tunnel… maybe add a “Stock photo” label?
Too many violent, gang, drug, un-parented people. Not too many guns. Millions of guns sit still doing nothing every day.
“sit still every day”… until they don’t. The amount of firearms owned by civilians in this country is ludicrous, both in absolute terms as well as compared to developed countries around the world.
The gun lobby surely appreciates your freelance excuses for the ease in which this person was able to obtain a deadly weapon amongst the millions that sit still doing nothing every day.
Too many guns sitting around with all the violent, gang, drug, un-parented people we have. (As if that population is really responsible for all gun violence….)
But because there are millions of guns, it makes it easier for the ‘violent, gang, drug, un-parented people’ to get them, no?