Three Hayward men were sentenced in San Francisco Superior Court today to five months in jail and three years’ probation after pleading guilty to a hate crime for the BB-gun shooting of a man they believed to be gay.
Shafiq Hashemi, 21, Mohammad Habibzada, 24, and Sayed Bassam, 21, were arrested Feb. 26 after shooting a 27-year-old man from their car at 16th and Guerrero streets in the Mission District. The man was struck in the cheek but not seriously injured.
Police said the men admitted to targeting people they thought were gay. Investigators believe they shot at several other people that night, but no other victims have come forward. The men recorded the shootings on video.
All three pleaded guilty last month to negligent discharge of a BB gun and hate crimes.
Under the terms of the plea deal, Judge Bruce Chen today sentenced the men to 180 days in jail, three years’ probation, up to 400 hours of community service, and hate crime sensitivity training.
Prosecutor Brian Buckelew said all three expressed remorse for the crime.
With credit for time served, the men will spend another 90 days in custody, Buckelew said.
