The Mercury News

1 dead and 1 injured in shooting on SF Muni train

Suspect jumped off train at Castro station, is at large

- By Olga R. Rodriguez

SAN FRANCISCO >> One person was killed and another was wounded in a shooting on a crowded subway train in San Francisco on Wednesday, a city supervisor said.

Supervisor Myrna Melgar said San Francisco police informed her that the shooting happened around 10 a.m. on a San Francisco Muni train between Forest Hill and Castro stations. She says the shooter ran out of the train at the Castro station and has not been found.

Melgar said the train was packed with commuters when the shooting happened. “When the train stopped, the perpetrato­r ran out, along with all of the people on the packed train,” Melgar told The Associated Press.

Melgar said San Francisco Deputy Chief David Lazar informed her there was a heated argument inside the train before the suspect shot a person, who later died.

“There was an altercatio­n between folks who may have known each other inside the subway before it stopped in Castro,” said Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, who represents the Castro District.

The station where the suspect ran out is at the heart of San Francisco's Castro neighborho­od, which is internatio­nally known for its LGBTQ activism. The shooting comes just four days before San Francisco's Pride parade, which typically draws thousands of people.

San Francisco police spokeswoma­n Officer Kathryn Winters said the shooting doesn't appear to have any connection to Pride events or have targeted the LGBT community.

“Right now it's a busy time; we have children riding the train to go to summer programs, commuters heading to work,” Melgar said. “I just know there are too many guns out there.”

Subway service was suspended in the area as police gathered evidence. Passengers were being transporte­d in buses and shuttles, Melgar said.

San Francisco police and city transporta­tion officials did not respond to telephone messages seeking more informatio­n.

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