Police seek two suspects in Mission District multiple shootings

Bay City News Service

March 15, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) - San Francisco police are looking for two Hispanic male suspects and a dark-colored vehicle in connection with Tuesday night's quadruple shooting in the Mission District that left one man dead.

It appears that the two assailants walked up to the victims, fired, and took off in the vehicle, according to police Officer Maria Oropeza.

The shooting took place outside of a liquor and convenience store on Mission Street between 15th and 16th streets shortly after 10 p.m. Tuesday.

The scene was chaotic when police arrived, according to San Francisco police Sgt. Neville Gittens. Shots were fired toward the 16th Street BART station and across the street. Passersby were scattering and struggling to help the victims, Gittens said.

The four victims, all of whom are black males, were taken to San Francisco General Hospital. Russell Cummings, 26, of San Francisco, died at the hospital, a spokesman for the San Francisco Medical Examiner said today.

A second victim sustained life-threatening injuries, according to Gittens.

The other two victims, a 25-year-old and a 46-year-old, sustained non-life-threatening injuries, Oropeza said.

The 46-year-old victim was a bystander, and was shot in the ankle while on his way to the store, according to Oropeza.

San Francisco police Chief Heather Fong described the investigation into the incident as "very active.'' Police did not share whether the incident is gang-related because "that is a vital part of the investigation," Fong said.

Cummings' death marks the 12th homicide of 2006 in San Francisco.

In response to the shootings, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said today that he wanted to see "more uniformed, beat officers" on patrol in the Mission District.

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