As thousands of revelers gathered in downtown San Francisco to usher in the New Year, San Francisco police were busy making arrests stemming from shootings, firearm possessions and public intoxication, according to a police spokesman.
San Francisco police Officer Albie Esparza said that in the city’s downtown area near the Embarcadero at least 18 people were arrested for public intoxication.
Citywide, police responded to two shootings on New Year’s Eve and two shootings on New Year’s Day.
The first shooting was reported shortly after 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve in the area of Jerrold Avenue and Third Street in San Francisco’s Bayview District.
According to the police investigation, a red two-door sedan pulled over in front of a residence in the area and fired numerous rounds into the dwelling.
The suspect vehicle attempted to flee the area but crashed into another vehicle, injuring at least four people.
The victims suffered injuries that are not considered life-threatening, police said.
The suspects fled the scene but police were able to locate one suspect and a gun during a search of the area.
The suspect, described as a 26-year-old man, was arrested, according to police.
Police have not released any information about the possible second suspect.
The second shooting on New Year’s Eve was reported at about 10:20 p.m. in the 700 block of Market Street, about a block from Union Square.
In this shooting, a male suspect shot one victim in the upper chest and another victim in the foot, police said.
Officers apprehended the suspect after a brief pursuit and recovered a handgun at the scene, police said.
Neither victim’s injuries are considered life-threatening, police said.
San Francisco police said the first shooting reported in the city in 2015 came in at 12:28 a.m. near Taylor and North Point streets near San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf area.
According to police, the suspect attempted to shoot someone in the area, but missed. Instead the gunfire struck a bystander on the sidewalk, police said.
The bullet struck the victim, described as a woman in her 50s, in her lower back, police said.
She was taken to San Francisco General Hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening.
A suspect, described as a 19-year-old man, was taken into custody in connection with the shooting and a handgun was recovered at the scene, according to police.
About an hour later, around 1:30 a.m., a shooting was reported in the Sunnydale public housing complex in the city’s Visitacion Valley, police said.
Officers said a male victim in his 50s walked to a home in the 1800 block of Sunnydale Avenue near Santos Street when two male suspects approached him and began shooting.
The two suspects fled the area following the shooting and have not yet been identified.
Police suspect robbery as a motive in the shooting, but police have not said if any property was taken from the victim.
The victim was transported to San Francisco General Hospital with a gunshot to the leg and a graze wound to the head. His injuries are not considered life-threatening, police said.
Officers said the victim was not cooperative in the police investigation.
Hannah Albarazi, Bay City News
