San Francisco murder victim worked with youth groups

By Brent Begin, Bay City News Service

June 21, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) - A man shot and killed in a deliberate attack Tuesday night in San Francisco's Mission District had spent years crusading against violence in his community.

Andrew Ele, 22, was waiting at a bus stop with his younger brother just after 11 p.m. when an unidentified man opened fire on the two. The attack happened on the bustling intersection of 24th and Folsom streets.

Ele suffered a bullet wound to the head and was pronounced dead shortly after at San Francisco General Hospital. His brother, younger by one year, took at least one bullet wound to the chest and is expected to survive, according to police Sgt. Neville Gittens.

Ele worked with several community groups throughout the Bay Area, according to NTanya Lee, executive director of Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth, a community organization that advocates for family services in San Francisco.

"He was a devoted music lover and dedicated young leader who worked or volunteered with youth organizations throughout the Bay Area for many years," said Lee. "Coleman Advocates worked with Andrew for the last seven years and we know his commitment to social justice for young people and to peace in our communities first hand."

Lee said Ele's family is planning to release a written statement today.

According to Gittens, the murder was a targeted attack on the two brothers. They were waiting at the bus stop on the northwest corner of the intersection when a thin black man, about 5 feet 7 inches tall, walked into the middle of the street and fired eight to 10 rounds at the two victims.

The suspect then ran around the corner and jumped into the passenger side of a white Mazda MPV. The minivan took off immediately and police are positive there is at least one other suspect involved, Gittens said.

Police have no suspects in custody for this case or in any of the other three shootings that occurred in a night marred by gun violence.

One man was shot in the back at 10:10 p.m. in the 300 block of Head Street when at least 10 rounds were fired from a black sports utility vehicle.

Another man was shot in the leg in the 500 block of Crescent Ave around 10:50, and a third victim was shot in the leg at the intersection of Eddy and Buchanan streets around 12:30 a.m.

Anyone with information on any of the four incidents are urged to contact the San Francisco Police Department's anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444.

"We're doing what we can with our limited resources," Gittens said.

Copyright © 2006 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.

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