One person was killed and another injured Wednesday morning following a shooting inside a Muni train between Forest Hill and Castro stations in the system, District Seven Supervisor Myrna Melgar said on Twitter.
Melgar, citing information she received from the San Francisco Police Department, said the shooter got off the train at Castro Station and was still at large, but stressed that police were not dealing with the incident. like an active shooter situation.
“We have too many guns out there,” Melgar said in a follow-up tweet. “Too much.”
At around 9:56 a.m., San Francisco police responded to a report of a shooting at Muni Forest Hill station, but discovered on the spot that the train had already left and was headed for Castro station, according to police spokeswoman Allison Maxie.
Officers discovered the two victims at the Castro station. A 70-year-old man was taken to San Francisco General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and a second victim, a 27-year-old man, died at the scene despite lifesaving measures taken by the San Francisco Fire Department, police said. .
Police confirmed no arrests were made and described the shooter as a man wearing dark clothing and a hooded jacket. On Wednesday evening, San Francisco police released a still from surveillance video of a person described by authorities as a person of interest.
San Francisco police officials are asking “this person to come forward and speak to investigators.” Police say they have obtained video of the shooting, and San Francisco police Homicide Detail investigators are investigating the murder.
Maxie said the incident doesn’t appear to be related to San Francisco’s upcoming Pride festivities or the Castro District’s broader LGBTQ community. Police said in a statement on Wednesday evening that they “would like to assure members of the community and visitors that this incident appears to be isolated, and we do not believe it is related to the Pride festivities or that it aimed at a group or community”.
Melgar told The Chronicle the shooting was not random and the alleged shooter and another man were in a heated argument before the shots were fired.
“The shooter pulled out a gun and shot the guy he was arguing with,” Melgar said. “The second victim was not involved in the verbal altercation but was right next to the other victim.”
Melgar said witnesses heard three to four gunshots as the train left Forest Hill station.
It was unclear whether the shooting of the second victim, a woman, was accidental, she said. The female victim sustained a knee injury and is the one who survived her injuries, Melgar said.
Police are interviewing witnesses and have closed Castro Street Station to collect evidence, Melgar said.
On Wednesday morning, city officials urged residents to avoid the area between Castro and Market streets due to police activity, and said shuttle buses were being organized to transport people from West Portal to Embarcadero and Folsom Street.
State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, called the violence a “horrific tragedy” and noted that it happened on a stretch of subway line he had traveled “thousands of times “.
“This is another reminder that as long as our country is awash with guns, shootings can happen anywhere, anytime,” he said in a statement. “California has the strongest gun safety laws in the country, and we continue to strengthen them. But we need strong action from Congress to really make our community safer. »
Anyone with information about the person of interest or the shooting should contact the San Francisco Police Information Line at 415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with “SFPD “. Callers can remain anonymous.
Megan Cassidy is a staff writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.comTwitter: @meganrcassidy