12:09 PM: A man who was gunned down Monday night as he was getting off a light-rail vehicle in San Francisco’s Ingleside Heights neighborhood was a San Francisco State University student, school officials said.
Justin Valdez, 20, a San Francisco resident, was originally from Garden Grove in Southern California.
He was shot around 9:50 p.m. as he left an eastbound San Francisco Municipal Railway light-rail vehicle near Randolph and Bright streets, according to police. The M-Ocean View line stops at that corner.
School officials said Valdez was a sophomore who had started at SF State in the fall of 2012 and had not yet declared a major.
University president Les Wong said in a statement today, “This is truly a tragedy for Justin’s friends and family, and for the entire University community. I have reached out to Justin’s family to offer our heartfelt concern, and to assure them that we stand ready to offer support and assistance at this difficult time.”
Grief counseling is available on campus for students, faculty and staff.
Valdez had attended Garden Grove High School and lived with his uncle, his high school principal Steve Osborne said.
Osborne recalled a “passionate and persistent” student who was the president of the school’s environmental club and a top competitor in the Garden Grove High aquatics program.
While Valdez was a student, he would talk with Osborne frequently to see about changes to the school’s recycling program, the principal said.
He also pushed tirelessly to establish a “Lights Out Wednesday” program to cut the school’s carbon footprint, according to the principal.
Vigils will be held in Valdez’s honor at the high school’s pool deck on Friday and Sunday, and there will be a “Lights Out for Justin Day” in the coming days, Osborne said.
“It’s been devastating for teachers who knew him,” Osborne said.
According to Valdez’s Facebook page, he was a member of the SFSU Men’s Club Water Polo team.
Police have released video footage of the shooting suspect captured by a surveillance camera on the Muni train.
He is described as an Asian man between 20 and 30 years old with a stocky build, who was wearing a black baseball cap with a purple brim and logo, according to police.
He was also wearing a white fleece hooded jacket with gray lining, blue jeans and black running shoes with white trim, police said.
The motive for the shooting remains under investigation. Police said the suspect and Valdez did not appear to know each other.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Police Department’s homicide detail at (415) 553-1145. People can also call anonymously to (415) 575-4444 or send a tip by text message to TIP411 with “SFPD” in the message.
Sasha Lekach, Bay City News
9:02 AM: A man who was fatally shot in San Francisco’s Ingleside Heights neighborhood on Monday night has been identified by the medical examiner’s office as 20-year-old Justin Valdez.
Valdez, a San Francisco resident, was slain at about 9:50 p.m. as he was exiting an eastbound San Francisco Municipal Railway light-rail vehicle near the corner of Randolph and Bright streets.
Police on Tuesday released surveillance footage from the Muni vehicle that captured an image of the shooting suspect.
He is described as an Asian man between 20 and 30 years old with a stocky build, who was wearing a black baseball cap with a purple brim and logo, according to police.
He was also wearing a white fleece hooded jacket with gray lining, blue jeans and black running shoes with white trim, police said.
The motive for the shooting remains under investigation. Police said the suspect and Valdez did not appear to know each other.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Police Department’s homicide detail at (415) 553-1145. People can also call anonymously to (415) 575-4444 or send a tip by text message to TIP411 with “SFPD” in the message.
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
3:58 AM: San Francisco police have released images and surveillance footage of a suspect wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of a 20-year-old man in the city’s Ingleside Heights neighborhood Monday night.
The victim was reportedly shot at about 9:50 p.m. as he was exiting an eastbound Muni light-rail vehicle near the corner of Randolph and Bright streets, police said.
The identity of the victim has not been released, police said.
The motive for the shooting remains under investigation and police said the suspect and victim do not appear to have known each other. The attack appears to have been random and unprovoked, police said.
The suspect fled the scene following the shooting and is believed to be armed and dangerous. He remains at large, according to police.
Police said the suspect is described as an Asian male between 20 and 30 years of age, with a stocky build. He was last seen wearing a black baseball cap with a purple brim and a logo on the front.
At the time of the homicide, he was also wearing a white fleece hooded jacket with gray lining, blue jeans and black running shoes with white trim, police said.
A Muni surveillance camera captured the suspect’s image prior to the shooting and police are releasing the images to the public.
Anyone with information about the suspect or the shooting is urged to contact police at (415) 734-3114 or may do so anonymously at (415) 575-4444. Citizens also have the option of texting a tip to TIP411 and typing SFPD in the subject line.
Hannah Albarazi, Bay City News
