The captain of San Francisco’s Mission District police station will hold a meeting with residents tonight to discuss police efforts to stem gang-related violence, which left three men dead over the weekend.
Police are still trying to figure out what triggered the initial hostilities, but the conflict is believed to be between separate factions of Nortenos, police spokeswoman Sgt. Lyn Tomioka said.
On Friday night, two groups began arguing near 24th and Shotwell streets at about 7:10 p.m.
What was initially a fistfight turned deadly when someone pulled a gun and shot and killed Michael Sanchez, 21, of San Francisco. Another man was also shot and survived.
Then on Sunday at about 4 p.m., in what police believe may have been retaliation, Francisco Cornejo, 26, and Francisco Pena, 41, both of San Francisco, were gunned down at Papa Potrero’s Pizza at 24th and Potrero streets, nine blocks south of Friday’s shooting.
A third man was hit and expected to survive.
Police arrested two suspects minutes after Sunday’s shooting, Andres Siordia, 19, and a 16-year-old boy whose name has not been released.
Both are also San Francisco residents.
Charges may be filed against Siordia and the juvenile today, according to the district attorney’s office.
The homicides are the first in the Mission District since November. The area was hit hard by gang violence and a wave of homicides last summer.
Police have stepped up their presence in the area in the wake of this weekend’s shootings.
Mission Station police Capt. Stephen Tacchini will host tonight’s meeting at 6 p.m. at Mission Educational Projects, Inc., a community group serving at-risk youth, located at 3049 24th St.
