A man was shot dead near Dolores Park on Wednesday night just after 10 p.m., according to the San Francisco Police Department.
Police said the shooting occurred on the northeast side of the park, along Dolores Street between 18th and 19th streets.
District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman told Mission Local that the man was a teenager who was just 19, and that multiple gunshots were fired.
“Mission Station, like many stations, is under stress from a staffing perspective — but this is an area where crime does occur, and where shootings have occurred,” Mandelman said. “It’s concerning; neighbors are concerned. I would hope that there will be a stepped-up police presence, especially while they are investigating what happened.”
But at the end of the day, he added: “We have too many guns.”
Daniel Lurie, the mayoral contender, held a hastily assembled press conference at the park along 20th Street between Dolores and Church streets, where police had been initially dispatched last night.
“As we head toward summertime, weather gets hotter, we know that incidents like this are more likely to occur,” said Lurie, accompanied by his campaign manager and speaking to two reporters. Lurie also called for a heightened police presence and more community ambassadors on the streets. “These type of incidents remind us that we have more work to do.”
Homicides are down in the first half of 2024: 13 people were killed in San Francisco as of June 2 this year, compared to 21 people in the same period last year, a 38 percent decrease. That total does not include Wednesday’s victim. Incidents of reported crime as a whole are also down 30 percent.
The medical examiner’s office has not yet released the identity of the victim.
Bob Hoffman, a dog walker who lives and works in the area, said the shooting worried him, as he is often strolling in the area late at night. “That’s really creepy,” he said. “I walk around the park at, like, two in the morning. It seems pretty safe, but I guess you never know.”
Several residents who live on the block of the shooting said they were shocked and saddened by the news, but were not home or did not hear anything at the time the shooting occurred.
The police department’s homicide unit is investigating this shooting. 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.
Not one word here mentioned the prevalence of drug dealing in Dolores Park year-round- but usually picking up in the summer when more tourists are in town. SFPD needs to have consistent police presence in Dolores Park. Period.
There is police presence day and night and there’s Park Ranger. I’m guessing you don’t even live in the city.
We live 2 blocks from the park – the past 25 years.
I live near Dolores Park and I don’t see a lot of cops there. I’m often there during the day; I walk around two full sides of the park nearly every day, and I don’t see a lot of cops. There are park employees but they don’t look like rangers.
I often pass by drug dealers, usually in the same spot (not going to say where because I don’t want to advertise their services.) There aren’t many, though, and I think they may be selling weed to tourists. (Personally I buy legal weed.)
I’m rarely there at night. It doesn’t feel as safe as it did years ago. During the day I walk by Dolores Park because it’s pretty, but at night I avoid it. Can’t really say if there are cops or not. But there have been enough reports of crimes before this that I stick to better-lit streets at night.
Glad Mandelman finally stated the problem, TOO MANY GUNS.
Cops do not stop shootings, and more cops will not stop gun murders.
I personally know this individual and he was not in a gang nor sold drugs.
“Too many guns” is an incomplete realization. “Too many guns IN THE HANDS OF CRIMINALS” is more appropriate. What are you willing to do if a prohibited person is caught with a firearm? Why not do that right now?
why is there not a zero tolerance policy for gang activity in san francisco? we’ve turned a blind eye to this for decades.
No we have not. There have been injunctions. That is why the 22B gang isn’t an issue these days.