At least nine shot during San Francisco Halloween festivities

Two people in critical condition

By Erica Holt, Bay City News Service

October 31, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) - Two people are fighting for their lives this morning after a shooting injured nine people during the city-sponsored Halloween celebration, a police spokesman said.

Two shooting victims walked into San Francisco hospitals this morning claiming they were wounded in the gunfire that injured at least seven others despite increased police presence during the colossal city-sponsored Halloween party Tuesday night, a police spokesman said.

Sgt. Neville Gittens said the shooting was reported shortly after 10:30 p.m. in the area of 2255 Market St. between 15th and 16th streets among thousands of people just as the party was winding down.

At least two of the nine victims suffered life-threatening injuries and one person was shot in the head.

"We have eight, maybe nine, victims,'' police Sgt. Neville Gittens said. Police have not confirmed, he said, that two victims reported this morning were involved in the shooting on Market Street between 15th and 16th streets among thousands of people just as the party was winding down.

"A couple of people just walked into hospitals and said they were shot as a result of that shooting,'' Gittens said.

The shooting happened near the Arthur J. Sullivan and Company funeral home's parking lot, according to the fire department.

Supervisor Bevan Dufty and Mayor Gavin Newsom had said an 11 p.m. curfew would be enforced by increased security, emphasizing that this year's celebration would be smaller and safer after dangerous years past, including the 2002 stabbings of five people.

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