Third victim dies in South San Francisco shooting

Gunplay in South San Francisco Wednesday night has claimed a third victim, putting the county’s gang task force and South San Francisco police on a hunt for a group of men who rained bullets upon a neighborhood that has suffered multiple murders this year and is known for gang violence.

Two men, Omar Cortez, 18, and Gonzalo Avalos, 19, were found dead at the scene, according to the San Mateo County Coroner’s Office. Both were residents of South San Francisco.

The third victim was taken to San Francisco General Hospital in critical condition where he later died. The San Mateo County Coroner’s Office has yet to release his name.

Three other males were also shot and transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

"These killings are over color and turf,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said yesterday. "Unless someone comes forward, this may go unsolved.”

It is unfounded speculation, Wagstaffe said, that the killings are a result of a rivalry between a Sureño street gang from San Bruno and a Norteño street gang from South San Francisco.

Yesterday, family and friends gathered at the site of a makeshift memorial at Eighth Lane and Linden Avenue where Cortez and Avalos and the third victim were found lying in the street after a hail of bullets struck at least six individuals at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday.

Victim Avalos was on probation at the time of his death, according to the District Attorney’s Office, and served time in prison.

Candles and other items were left at the scene as a group of about 20 gathered to remember their friends yesterday.

The six gunshot victims ranged in age from 15 to 20 years old, according to police.

The shooting occurred in a neighborhood that suffered two murders in March and May and an attempted murder in October.

A 15-year-old boy, Jose Lopez Manuel, was killed in a drive-by shooting in May two blocks from Wednesday night’s triple homicide. After that incident, police stepped up patrols in the neighborhood, fearing possible retaliation.

The area was also the scene of a homicide in March when 29-year-old Belmont resident Ronald Figueroa was shot in the face dead in front of a home in the 300 block of Lux Avenue a few blocks away from Wednesday night’s incident.

South San Francisco Mayor Kevin Mullin said yesterday that the full resources of the city are behind finding the perpetrators.

"We will step up police presence in the particular neighborhood, which has experienced gang activity in recent years,” Mullin said in a statement.

In October, another incident on Linden and California avenues led to gunfire after a dark blue 1980s Volvo nearly struck three people walking on the sidewalk.

Words were exchanged after a man exited the vehicle to confront the pedestrians, according to police.

The suspect allegedly pulled a handgun from his waistband and pointed it at one of the victims, who moved his head before the suspect fired one shot, grazing the victim’s temple, according to police.

The victim in that incident was not severely injured and declined medical attention for the minor head wound.

"The cycle of violence must be stopped and it will take the efforts of an entire community to do so. The city will continue to reach out and engage families in this neighborhood to develop solutions to this violence,” Mullin said in the statement.

Wednesday night, as police taped off Linden and Aspen avenues, a group of about 40 people assembled on the corner, some who heckled police.

Others were seen wailing in the arms of family and friends as news of the shootings spread through the neighborhood. Residents on the 700 block of Linden were kept from their homes for hours as forensic investigators combed the area for evidence.

Another bystander Wednesday night was wearing a sweatshirt that read "R.I.P. Jose Manuel Lopez” with a picture of the teen, who was slain in a drive-by shooting in May.

Police are asking anyone with information that might help the investigation to contact South San Francisco police at (650) 877-8900.

Bill Silverfarb can be reached by e-mail: silverfarb@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106.