Monday, November 12, 2007

Fatal shooting at the Metreon. Victim was "walking too slow"

That would be the second murder at the Metreon so far this year.

Update: The motive is now known: the victim was walking too slow



Teenager arrested in fatal Metreon shooting

Tanya Schevitz,Marisa Lagos, Chronicle Staff Writers

Monday, November 12, 2007


(11-12) 08:35 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- Authorities today identified the victim of Sunday's fatal shooting at San Francisco's Metreon shopping center and movie theater as Michael Price, Jr., of Oakland.

Price, 18, was shot to death after an argument with at least one other young man just inside the building's entrance, according to witnesses and police.

Minutes later, a 15-year-old suspect was arrested a block away from where the Sunday evening shooting took place, said Sgt. Neville Gittens, a San Francisco police spokesman. The suspect was arrested on Mission Street near 5th Street and was in possession of a handgun at the time of his arrest, according to Gittens.

Police officials would not release any other information about the suspect because of his age but Gittens said the teenager is being held at the Youth Guidance Center on suspicion of murder and a weapons charge. A crowd surged out the front doors of the Metreon at the corner of Fourth and Mission streets moments after the 7:05 p.m. shooting near the main movie theater ticket counter. Police, who were directing traffic outside because of the crush prompted by a nearby Oracle Corp. conference, rushed in and found the victim lying on the floor, Gittens said.

The victim, whose name was withheld by police, was shot "numerous times" and died at San Francisco General Hospital at 7:30 p.m.

While a motive is not known, the victim and suspect had been arguing, Gittens said. Investigators do not believe the incident was gang related, he added.

"It was just one of those encounters," he said.

San Francisco resident James Galindez said he and Judy Anderson walked by four young men who were arguing just before the shooting.

"There were four males around 17 or 18 years old, and they were saying, 'I'll pop a cap in your ass,' " he said. "They were arguing, and (Anderson) pulled me away. ... We walked away to Sanraku (restaurant), and that's when we heard the shots, pop, pop, pop."

Gittens said police were able to interview a large number of witnesses after the shooting, though he was not sure whether any of those people were the victim's or suspect's friends.

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3 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Chronicle had "Oakland" in the headline of todays paper both in the front page and on the interior page.

San Francisco was not mentioned in the headline. I guess this homicide should go on Oakland's count since the victim was from Oakland. Absolutely outrages. Oakland should sue the pants off of the San Francisco Chronicle.

David Likuski said...

No way does this go on Oakland's count. Especially since it happened in a place such as the Metreon. Since it was in a "touristy" place, at least now the tourists can have something extra to tell their loved ones back home: "there was a homicide in San Francisco while I was there, and I didn't know the place was dangerous...until now".
Even better, they have no idea that the victim is from Oakland, assuming that they even bother to know where Oakland is and visit it while they visit the area.

Anonymous said...

I work at the Metreon and this killing happened right in front of me. I don't understand this all pervasive culture of death that comes out of Oakland and Bayview/Hunters Point. These crimes can't be blamed on Police or the white man. Someone needs to take personal responsibility for their own actions and decide not to murder someone for going too slow down an escalator.