FCPD wrote on Oct 15, 2005 9:54 PM:Wow. How quickley americans forget. I know I did

Jennifer wrote on Oct 20, 2005 9:56 PM:I live in La Jolla, exactly twenty five miles north of the former McDonald's where this tragedy took place some twenty plus years ago. The site is now the home of Southwestern College, but I have seen the memorial and am always filled with sadness when I go there. They have done a wonderful job on the memorial which is just in front of the former McDonald's building which you can tell was once the eatery, but has been painted grey, though the general shape of the building is still there. I am especially touched by the comments in this story and it is great that the memory of what happened not so long ago in our city is kept alive. ALL those that survived or not on that very sad day, were heros, but their memories will never be in vain and we, as the citizens of this beautiful city will always be proud of their bravery and courage.

Robert wrote on Oct 25, 2005 5:33 PM:Hi I'm doing a prodject one the McDonalds Massacre and i need a picture of the McDonalds where it ttok place and the new college thats in its place.Can someone help me?

roger wrote on Oct 27, 2005 5:43 PM:I was only 8 years old when the massacre happened, and only after researching, have I realize what a horrific event transpired that day. I have read alot about this incident, alot of scary details stick in my mind. it is recounted, as Huberty shot patrons, he danced a sick dance to a radio in the background. he killed an elderly mans wife right in front of him, before killing the man as well.its those details that stick. The sickness.

Al wrote on Dec 5, 2005 2:40 PM:It's too bad none of the McDonald's customers and or employees were armed that day. A lot of folks lives could have been saved. More people should look into concealed weapon permits and firearms training. Unfortunately, California does not allow it's citizens to defend themselves.

Leonor wrote on Dec 27, 2005 6:26 PM:I know I am adding this comment way after this was posted, but I was seven at the time and I lived half a block from Mc Donald's. I saw bullets flying in the air and I remember police officers not letting us go to our house. They told us to get down in our car and not move. It was scary becasue we did not know what was going on. We were going to eat at Mc Donald's but my grandma invited us to her house. I still live in San Ysidro and I graduated from Southwetern college and I see the area everyday. Its not easy to forget what I do remember.

mdp wrote on Feb 28, 2006 12:10 PM:Thats right Al, all the employees at McDonalds should have been packin' heat that day. Maybe every restaurant should require their customer to have some "chrome" before entering so they won't be held liable for rampaging massacres! Gun folk logic is always so perpelxing and irrational.

armida wrote on Mar 31, 2006 7:56 PM:I remember that day i was there i had just turned 17th this was my first job. I lost my cousin and two friends because they thru a coffee pot at him to save the guy who became a cop, i saved a co-worker. I never told anybody or wrote about this day till now. I saw him when he shot the man in the blue shirt because he started to move.

sergio g wrote on Jun 16, 2006 4:44 AM:I still remember this event. I'm now 33 years old and I was 9 years old. I still remember the gun shots, many of them. I grew up about 3 blocks away. i remember the countless police officers blocking the streets of sun Set lane, which was my street. My neighbor went to school with hubertys daughter. Two of my friends were murdered. I could have been there. My best friend died that day. This has been a funeral i will always remember.I just like to share a tiny bit on that day in the summer of July.

Db wrote on Jun 20, 2006 2:11 PM:That's right mdp, if you were there and your son or daughter (or YOU) were in harms way, and you had a chance to save their lives or yours, it might be nice to have a gun then, huh? What you so conveniently call "gun folk logic" can save your life. What is so "perplexing" and "irrational" about that? Get real.

evo8 wrote on Aug 2, 2006 8:12 PM:I remember that sad day, seems like it happen yesterday.I lost my cousin there,I was the last one to talk to her that day had bad feeling that something bad to happen.I was to shy to ask her for a kiss before she tooked the city bus still regreted everyday she's always in my mind and prayers.I would like to trade everthing owned to be back to that day and get my kiss.Im sure she's always looking for me from heaven to honor her never will or do eat @ Mcdonals.I hoped to be reunited some day and get my kiss will make my life complete.

IMELDA wrote on Aug 23, 2006 1:15 AM:I ALSO LIVED IN SAN YSIDRO BEFORE AND AFTER THE SAN YSIDRO MASSACRE OCCURRED. I HAD JUST GRADUATED FROM SUNSET ELEMETARY SCHOOL IN JUNE WITH 3 OF THE VICTIMS OMAR, DAVID AND SURVIVING VICTIM JOSHUA. I REMEMBER THAT EVENING LIKE IF IT WAS YESTERDAY. YOU COULD HERE THE GUN SHOTS FROM MY HOME. SAN YSIDRO BOULEVARD WAS CROWDED FOR BLOCKS WITH PEOPLE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE COMMOTION WAS AND TRYING TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON WITHOUT KNOWING THEY WERE AT RISK FROM FLYING BULLETS. WHEN MY PARENTS FOUND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON THEY RUSHED TO GO LOOK FOR MY FRIEND,MY SISTER AND MYSELF. WHEN WE GOT HOME WE COULD SEE ON THE NEWS MY FRIEND'S BICYCLES LAYING ON THE DRIVE THRU EXIT WITH BLOOD ON THE GROUND. LIVING SO CLOSE TO THE MEXICAN BORDER AND HAVING LIMITED TV CHANNELS BACK THEN ALL YOU WANTED TO SEE WAS NEWS, NEWS AND MORE NEWS IN ENGLISH OR IN SPANISH. MY MOTHER, MY SISTER AND I WERE ABLE TO ATTEND OMAR'S FUNERAL SERVICE AND FOR ME A SOON TO BE 11 YR OLD IT WAS REALLLY HARD TO BELIEVE THEY WERE GONE, EVEN NOW 22 YRS LATER I STILL CRY ABOUT IT(I'M CRYING NOW). TO ALL THE VICTIMS DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN IN MY MIND MY PRAYERS WILL ALWAYS GO OUT TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. P.S SERGIO G AND I WENT TO SCHOOL TOGETHER WITH OMAR, DAVID AND JOSHUA. SERGIO PLEASE LOCATE ME THROUGH VICTOR IT WOULD BE NICE FOR ALL OF US TO GET TOGETHER ONE DAY -IMELDA

joe bloggs wrote on Oct 3, 2006 4:36 AM:i remember this happening. i was only about 12 years old at the time and living in Australia, but it is something I never forget about. Why America is so obsessed with guns I will never understand. Nobody except the police and army should have access to firearms. The private ownership of guns should be illegal and there should be gun amnesty' days where guns can be handed in to be crushed. This is going to happen time and time people unless you stand up and say no to gun ownership.

Esmi wrote on Oct 28, 2006 1:06 PM:It's so terrible to hear all this happening all around us, to the Incent victims. I fremeber that day and felt so terrible that such a happy day for families and friends turned into a sad day that will never be forgotten. We should all stop and listen to those in need of mental.Look and all the incent children taken from the Amish school. All the signs were there when someone is in need of mental help, before they take Incent lives.

gfo, cv, ca wrote on Oct 29, 2006 12:27 AM:I thank god for leaving my sister with us,because she had just walked out of the McDonald's about 1 hour before the shooting began. My prayers for everyone who lost a loved one....

gabriel wrote on Oct 29, 2006 12:28 AM:I thank god for leaving my sister with us,because she had just walked out of the McDonald's about 1 hour before the shooting began. My prayers for everyone who lost a loved one....

Broady wrote on Nov 27, 2006 10:57 PM:Talk about gun owners being irrational joe bloggs, let me tell you what happens when only the police and army have guns. Not only dozens die, millions die. The list of wholesale massacres of innocents in the course of world history speaks for itself. Go and type 'genocide' into google and have a read. You may be happy to leave yourself defenceless and that's up to you, but don't take that right away from anybody else.

moz wrote on Dec 2, 2006 12:14 PM:The problem wasn't that patrons and employees of the restaurant weren't packing guns. The problem was the weak gun laws that permitted a lunatic like Huberty to be buying guns in the first place. Perplexing and irrational is the thought that "guns for all" would have prevented the massacre; stricter filtering of gun purchasers, especially powerful semiautomatics, may have prevented Huberty from having so much killing power that day.

rso wrote on Dec 21, 2006 10:08 AM:I was 8 at the time and was Huberty's neighbor. I was friends with his 2 girls. I lost my best friend Claudia that day. I now live in AZ and was able to finally visit the memorial this past weekend. I took my kids and explained to them what can happen when you fill your heart with hate. I still remember the events of that day like it was yesterday. I can still hear the gunshots and people screaming. That night we had a helicopter land on our Apt. complex. In the days that followed you had to show picture IDs to FBI agents in order to get into our complex. They had Claudias' funeral along with Jackie's and baby Carlos'. I will never forget how they looked. I have not been able to cry but I look forward to seing them when they are resurrected to God's Kingdom here on Earth. There are so many details about that day that people don't know. I want the families who lost loved ones to know that we still remember and will never forget their loved ones. I think about Claudia and what a promising future she had. She always got good grades and would rush home afterschool to get home. She was always at the Civic Center where she would "rent" a tether ball so we could play. She was trully a beautiful little girl. This should not be about gun control but rather we need to honor the ones who were lost that day. My prayers are with the family members who in a way, also died that day and for all those who like me, have the scars in our memories that will never fade.

Melissa wrote on Apr 16, 2007 1:20 PM:We lived right up the street. Everyone in the neighbor was so close. The smell from this atrocity hung in the air for what seemed like days. 2 weeks later, my beautiful daughter Alicia was born. She is 22 now and has a son of her own. Though I still remember the horror of this day like it was yesterday, she is my testament that something great can come of something so terrible. We live on the East Coast now, but I wish all of my old friends well....

LeAnne wrote on Apr 16, 2007 6:19 PM:As I watched the Virgina Tech incident today I was reminded of this tradgic event that took place over 20 years ago. I had just graduated from Chula Vista High School and was working at Coco's in San Ysidro which was right across from McDonald's. It was a very scary day not knowing who was shooting at whom and why. I still think of those lost lives...

Angel R. wrote on Apr 16, 2007 8:01 PM:Strange how we are reminded about past experiences like the last person wrote. I also was seen on tv tonight what happened at Virginia tech and immediately rememberes about the mcdonalds massacre. I was also a 11 or 12 year old and of course it hurt although I knew no one bust really affected me as a child and with this new incident memories of news casters came back. You will always be remembered.

Raul wrote on Apr 16, 2007 8:45 PM:I was 24 years old when the sad incident happened, I remember very well the following day I went to Los Angeles and as we drove by the MacDonalds restaurant on I-5 I looked at it to my right (and this I tell my friends and relatives because I never forgot it)I saw the eatery surrounded by yellow police rope or cords, the cars of the victims were all still parked in the parking lot and the glass was full of all these bullet holes of different sizes, I was amazed at what I was looking, really sad, many of the victims were people from Tijuana Mexico my hometown, it truly was a very sad day, I remember the following days I was scared when I entered any fast food place and always chose a seat close to an emergency exit. All who died there must never be forgotten.

Sandra wrote on Apr 17, 2007 9:58 AM:I was 17 yrs old when this tragic happened. I was on my way home and lived not too far from McDonald's. In the days that followed I learned that a good friend was killed along with her 8 month old son. For months I had dreams that I was walking up to her to just tell her goodbye but could not catch up to her. The tragic at VA Tech took me back in time (a time that I will never forget) I still have the last picture I took with Jackie, in the front lawn of Southwest High. My prayers go out to the families in Virginia.

Jesus wrote on Apr 17, 2007 11:52 AM:Although I was not there at the time, I can remember hearing the sirens and the helicopters. I lived about 2 miles away, on Cypress Drive. Omar Hernandez was my friend from school. Elsa Borboa lived across the street from my house and was a friend of the family. Being a small town everybody knew everbody else. All the kids went to the same schools so we all knew each other.

cole wrote on Apr 17, 2007 3:02 PM:I was in CA with my Dad for the summer that year and I remember being so terribly afraid. How could something happen like that in a McDonalds? That seemed impossible to me. Completely ridiculous and bizzare. I had never seen a gun on a person except on a police officer and it didn't really occur to me that people, just anyone could get a gun. Why would anyone want a gun? In light of what happened yester at Blacksburg I would love to think that our country would re-examine our laws regarding guns and make them illegal. Guns serve NO purpose other than to kill someone.THe recreational and collecting aspect should not superceed the dangerous nature of guns. Today, it still seems ridiculous to me that people have guns. Why? I was 13 when that happened and am 36 now and it seems as bizzare to me now as it did then.

Ray wrote on Apr 17, 2007 10:19 PM:Guns don't kill people, people do! Do you think gun control would have stopped the arsenal that this madman was able to acquire? And another question - what do you think the outcome of that day might have been had just one OTHER person in that restaurant ALSO had a gun? Yeah... when we outlaw guns, then only the outlaws will have guns.

Thomas wrote on Apr 18, 2007 8:59 AM:I am 13 years old and the virginna tech massacre happened just resently........ my parents said that this was worse then the mcdonald massacre in San Ysidro 1984... I think that people who do commit these crime have illnesses. I also think it was horrible for this to happen. all those incient people made me wonder what the Mcdonalds Massacre was about. I think people should take more responceabilyty when people are buying guns. But as ay said guns dont kill people, People kill people. Not everyone who has a gun will do this, because some people have guns in certain neighborhoods, because of danger and weird people there, many of people use guns for hunting. Thats why people have guns in the first place, Because people who do crap like this just wants to be famous. and want there name talked about and known. and another reason they did this is, because of sick people. My prayers go out to everyone all of this stuf happened to . and all the people who suffered.................... its a damn shame that all of this happened

MrD wrote on Apr 18, 2007 11:40 PM:Come on people, stop focusing on gun control, pro or against...you cannot control these random acts of violence. Yes, a gun makes killing easier/faster, but you are still dealing with very sick individuals who are so self obsessed they'll give up their own lives only after inflicting death, pain and sorrow on countless others. We all wish these events don't happen, but having or banning guns is not the answer to these complex killing sprees.

Susie wrote on Apr 19, 2007 10:43 AM:I worked at the McDonalds located at the Mex/San Ysidro border when the massacre occured but I started at the massacre site McDonalds at the age of 18. All the employees there were like family, and some were family. We celebrated so many great times together in that store. It was so sad to hear that some of my friends were killed. When the shooting had just started, we did not know how bad it would be so we planned to go there and "clean up". Then we heard how bad the tragedy really was. One of the managers escaped and made it all the way to our store. We all went by that night at about 11pm and paid our respects to all who had died. Senseless murders.

Timitria wrote on Apr 22, 2007 5:14 PM:I remember that horrible day as if it was yesterday. It happened on a thursday. My parents used to take me and my brothers every thursday after they got off work. But the thursday the shooting happened my parents was asked to work overtime because they were short staffed that day. My parents called and told us they will not be able to take us to McDonalds because they have to stay and work overtime. We were upset and had tears but soon our tears of anger turned into tears of joy because we looked on the tv and it was a special news break informing everybody about the shooting. I thank God because that could of been me and my family. My heart goes out to the victims and their families. God had his angels with us that day. I will never forget this tragic day as long as I live.

Hit wrote on May 9, 2007 11:43 AM:Guns have nothing to do with murder, death or violence except that they make it easy. It's not hard to kill people once you have decided to kill people. The methods used have little to do with the outcome. Mass-murders have been happening since man was invented and they're going to keep happening until he is recalled. If guns were not available, that man would have used a hatchet, an axe, a sword, a knife, a bomb or his bare hands. Nothing was going to stop that from happening. ...

Hit wrote on May 9, 2007 11:47 AM:Guns have nothing to do with murder, death or violence except that they make it easy. It's not hard to kill people once you have decided to kill people. It's the decision to do so that's hard, and that matters. The methods used have little to do with the outcome. Mass-murders have been happening since man was invented and they're going to keep happening until he is recalled. If guns were not available, that man would have used a hatchet, an axe, a sword, a knife, a bomb or his bare hands. Nothing was going to stop that from happening. ... I was injured by a bullet that day.

am wrote on May 12, 2007 5:17 PM:this was the day my life changed the concept about people not actually being what they appeared to be. I was innocent back then now i understand the fact that people choose to be what they are. Being crazy is just an excuse to do what they do. My relatives died that day if i had not been hiding where i was i would of been one of the dead. I was hiding in the drive up window he actually never saw me there . Now i am mad at the fact that my cousin died saving the life of this man who became a police officer coward if he is such a hero why didn't he come back to help them intead of running down stairs.

Remember It To wrote on Jun 4, 2007 4:10 PM:I lived in CV and was 15 at the time of the massacre. I started 10th grade at CVHS after this incident and met a girl who had survived that day at McDonalds by hiding in the freezer with a couple of others. She committed suicide a few months later. I think she was suffering from the indicent, kind of like a "survivors guilt". I have never been able to go into a McDonalds without remembering the massacre.

EVO8 wrote on Jun 29, 2007 8:09 PM:THIS IS IN MY COUSIN PAULINA AQUINO MEMORY THAT GOT KILLED THERE AND TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO LOST A RELATIVE IN THIS MASSACRE.I'M SURE SHE'S IS RESTING IN PEACE AND FORGAVE WHO DID IT.A LOVING PERSON LIKE HER DOES NOT HAVE A SPACE IN HER HEART TO HATE SOMEONE.I WISH MY COUSIN COULD READ THIS TO LET HER KNOW THAT I MISS HER AND THAT SHE WOULD ALWAYS BE A PART OF ME.I WOULD ALSO WOULD LIKE HER TO KNOW IF SHE COULD PLEASE GUIDE ME STEP BY STEP,EVERY WHERE I GO AND TO PLEASE TAKE CARE OF MY MOM AND LET HER KNOW SHE'S ALWAYS IN MY MIND AND PRAYERS.HOPE TO BE REUNITED SOMEDAY. GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU WHO ARE GOING THRU THE SAME THING. HOPE ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO DIED IN THIS HORRIBLE MEMORY REST IN PEACE,BUT ALWAYS REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR THEM.

Vasili wrote on Jul 19, 2007 3:23 PM:I am so glad Charles L. Foster saved many people's life! William B. Kolender is now my aunt's age.

Vasili wrote on Jul 20, 2007 12:31 PM:I am so glad Joshua Coleman is still alive. His first name means Jesus in Hebrew. He got the right name! He is now an ironworker. He is doing very well and God protects him.

Vasili wrote on Jul 23, 2007 9:28 AM:Neva Caine is the only person of Jewish descent died. Juan Acosta Tokano (he is still alive and now in the mid-50's, thank God) is of Mexican-Japanese origin. Acosta's father is Mexican, while his mother is Japanese.

Vasili wrote on Jul 23, 2007 9:31 AM:It is so touching that Alberto Leos called Charles Foster a hero due to saving his life. He is a guardian angel!

Vasili wrote on Jul 23, 2007 12:04 PM:Blythe Regan Herrera was born Blythe Regan Jones and is of Celtic origin, while Laurence Herman Versluis came from Germanic tribes, Neva Caine came from Semitics, and the rest came from Spaniards and Native Americans from Siberia.

Michelle wrote on Aug 3, 2007 1:33 AM:Adelina Hernandez still works at Sunset School. She has worked there ever since I can remember. We would all call her "abuelita". She was the nicest lady in the cafeteria. When my mom told me the story about her son being killed in the Mc Donalds murder...i understood why she liked us so much. After that I always saw the sadness behind her eyes when she saw all of us. I feel really bad for her....recently (july 18,2007) i saw her sitting down in one of the blocks in the memorial...it made me so sad because its been so long since that happened and she still feels the pain. I am so sorry for everyone who lost a loved one that day.

Jorge wrote on Aug 8, 2007 9:47 PM:Wow 20+ years. I have not forgotten that day. I was working on a construcction site just about 2 blokcs away, we finishes a little early and called a day. I stopped by MCDonald and picked up some food to take home. I actually went inside to get my food but decided to go home because I was to dirty, buy the time I got home I heard on the news what was going on. I could not belive what was happening "hell I was just there". My brother was at the time the Manager of an arcade store on the other side of the post office. David and Omar would ask my brothe if they could go to MCDonald's for us and get us something to eat,they did this because my brother would give theme free games. On that perticular day my brother said he did not see any of the kids that would come to the arcade. I was watching the news when I noticed Omar laying next to his bike in front of the main door. I could not belive what I was seeing. I felt my legs get weak. I called my brother at work because he was not allowed to leave do to the police activity. I told him what I have seen, we both just stayed on the line and din't say anything for a few minutes. I will never forget thoes little faces. I still have the news paper of the massacre to remind me of the loss. My prayers are with all

James wrote on Sep 24, 2007 9:22 AM:Awful. A tradegy of the biggest scale.-

Vanessa wrote on Sep 26, 2007 7:59 PM:I was 9 yrs old. We lived in Chula Vista and Tijuana during this time. Everytime we traveled from Chula Vista to Tijuana we ALWAYS stopped at that McDonalds to eat. It never failed. My mom and my 2 sisters and brother always wanted to go, but this particular day, I remember saying "lets just go home today". When we got home we got call after call from relatives wanting to know if we were ok. That is when we found out what happened. Just to think we would have been there makes me nauseaus. I will never ever forget that day or those people who died.

poopoo wrote on Oct 11, 2007 8:17 PM:This is such a traedy

Pablo wrote on Oct 21, 2007 9:34 AM:What do you know! You know nothing. Don't listen to this Ignorant people. I don't see any matter to put sarcasm on this blog. We are all Americans!

Vasili wrote on Nov 2, 2007 12:32 PM:Charles Foster is still working in law enforcement and he will be known forever as the man who saved Alberto Leos' life and Foster is a guardian angel of British-American origin. Leos is Mexican-Basque origin.

erin wrote on Nov 5, 2007 6:41 PM:I remember that day vividly. I was 4 years old traveling with my grandparents to Mexico. As we approached the front door, we saw an older woman covered in blood. Her husband cried as he had lost the love of his life. They laid at the front of the building just outside their blue car. As we hurried back to our car, the sound of an automatic gun permeated the commotion. While we hurried out of the parking lot, I gazed at young lifeless bodies lying under their BMX bikes. When I read the media coverage, I realize this wasn't a small event that only I experienced. In the aftermath, I can only conclude that lunatics will always have guns, and dangerous people will always live in our society. Although I generally see the good in everyone, I also realized that I cannot rationally live in a fairly tale. As I am a political science major, I find it difficult arguing the point of gun control with people who have never seen death—not by natural causes.

Vasili wrote on Nov 7, 2007 3:45 PM:Joshua Coleman misses his two Mexican friends and they are with the Lord.

Vasili wrote on Nov 7, 2007 3:58 PM:Laurence Herman Versluis is one of few non-Mexican victims of the McDonald's massacre. Versluis was a Belgian-American and he is with the Lord.

BLESS619 wrote on Nov 7, 2007 9:27 PM:I was 7 months old and my dad dropped my mom and me off at the San Ysidro McDonald's. My dad left to go handle some things. My mom was about to order, but she wasn't really feeling the atmosphere at the McDonald's, so she walked me across the street to the Jack n the Box instead. As we ate our food my mom said she heard many gun shots. She then saw people running out of the McDonald's. I'm lucky to be alive. My familia and I have been living in National City since. RIP to all the vicims.

Tony wrote on Nov 12, 2007 5:10 PM:Addition to Al’s comments dated 12-5-05. He is absolutely correct. Why is it that every time there is a shooting the liberals yell Ban the Gun, Ban the Gun. These same liberals support the abortion of 1,000,000 babies’s a year. Now almost 2 years after Al’s comment there have been even more shootings at schools and collages and the only thing that the liberals have got to show for it is that schools and collages are not allowed to have guns on campus by anyone. How different things would have been at Virginia Tech if those in facility and stuff positions had weapons to protect themselves and the students. I was 23 when the McDonalds shooting occurred and lived in Anaheim, Calif. and to this day I still think about those who lost there lives in that tragedy. A final note, thousand more die every year in car crashes then by guns, why don’t the liberals support banning cars?

dave wrote on Nov 15, 2007 8:04 AM:why dont you go on websites where you can spread your propoganda where it is welcome, instead of posting here. this is supposed to be for remembrance of the day and the people who lost their lives. that goes for both sides. my best friend was shot by a homeowner. my friend was knocking on his patio door thinking that the home was the place his friends had rented. the owner became scared and shot him through the glass door. do i believe in guns? lets just say, you can make a case both ways. lets talk about the ones lost and not make it political any more than we have.

sergio g wrote on Nov 27, 2007 3:21 AM:so i visit this page.Alot.I will comment again 2 years ago i did.Now i know Josh is doing fine.Josh was also a good friend.He was saved.If these guys would have invited me that day,well..I could have been there also.To vasili tell josh i can be located through my space.key word ...zoso1973.

Dave wrote on Dec 7, 2007 9:29 AM:Tony is just another ... republican conservative who will screech to push his agenda anywhere, anytime. He really should stop his party before country nonsense, because real americans are fed up with the likes of him and his kind. He represents everything that is wrong with our country. My heart goes out to the victims. I remember hearing about this tragedy when I was a teenager. May they rest in peace.

Rich wrote on Jan 29, 2008 9:24 AM:I remember watching the news of that when I was 15. In May, 2000, the Wendy's massacre (5 killed, 2 injured) happened here in nY at a restaurant my now-late father had eaten at only the day before. Sad.

shandie wrote on Feb 25, 2008 6:47 PM:my anut was working that day and she was very blesse and manage to make it through this tragedy and eveyday she suffers from it this was a ver sad event and no family , no person should ever have to experince that.. my prayers are with the familys and the victums of this horrible day...

Jose wrote on Mar 2, 2008 1:46 AM:I was 8 when the massacre happened. I live in Orange County but countless times my family and I would stop at that McDonalds after a trip to Mexico. I remember hearing it on the news when it happened but not realizing the full scope of the incident until years later.

I just drove by the site today and it is an empty lot again with just the memorial remaining. I hope it stays that way.

My heart goes out to all who were witness to it, those who survived it and those who lost their lives that day. Let us never forget

dan wrote on Mar 3, 2008 9:27 PM:i was in the san ysidro mcdonalds 2 hours (at 2 p.m.) before the shooting happened!!!!!no joke.my friend and i were on our way to mexico for a surfing trip for 2 days.we ate there,and then drove south into mexico to san miguel to surf that afternoon.when we returned 2 days later,we saw the newspaper headlines and couldn't believe what had happened.i couldn't believe the tragedy of what had happened but i was more in shock that we were in that place 2 hours before it happened!!!it stills gives me the creeps to this day when i think about it.i feel for the families that had to go through that.

Gary wrote on Mar 4, 2008 8:07 PM:I was 17 when this event took place. It changed my life and, to this day, I will think about it and have a memory about that day quite often-and I am from Pennsylvania! The morning after, I remember my mother taking me to Villanova University to apply for fall '84 classes. We stopped and picked up a Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper at a Denny's restaurant and I read, enthralled and horrified and saddened at the same time, about this positively devastating act of violence which still has me in it's grasp. I can't imagine how anyone who was actually there or who lived in the area has dealt with the scars all these years-May God Bless You All richly for your bravery and love for your community! It had such an effect on me, I flew out there and visited San Ysidro and the Memorial site on the 20th Anniversary. There was a beautiful gathering of students of the school and family members there for a Memorial Service. I videotaped it and will never forget being there. I was fortunate to recognize Adelina Hernandez (the mother or Omarr, who was pictured tangled in his bike outside the main entrance)from the documentaries and news reports that I still have on videotape from that summer. What a wonderfully warm, sweet person she is-it was an honor meeting her! I also met the mother of David Flores, one of Omarr's friends who was also taken from us. Again, such a kind and sweet person. They let someone take a picture of us standing in front of the school. As a result, through Mrs. Hernandez, I have since had a wonderful pen-pal friendship with her other son, Omarr's older brother, Edgar. I have some Mexican descent in me as well, perhaps that's why I have always felt so passionately for those people. But we have become great friends and he has invited me to come out and meet them again, and I hope to do just that-possibly in July of '09, the 25th Anniversary. If anyone else reads this that was there that day or who knows Edgar,I would be honored to meet you, too. The community of San Ysidro and the families touched by that event will always be in my prayers, and the memories of that summer of '84, and the images and sounds of that day, though only on videotape for me, shall never leave me. And this from a guy 3000 miles away....God Bless All in the San Ysidro community-

fc wrote on Apr 4, 2008 8:53 PM:jimbo's beef was'nt with the patrons in the store, but the store itself. Ever wonder why no movie ever made. He felt his msge was worth his life. He just went about things the wrong way. People can't see the forest thru the trees because they are too busy examining everything else.

Suzette wrote on Apr 22, 2008 12:18 AM:Wow Gary...to be that far, and to be impacted by an event so deeply, and travel all that way to come an honor the victims, that's amazing!
I was about 6 years old when this horrible thing happened.... I lived right by, and knew David....actually he was my both my brothers friend....I had a cute little girl crush on him..... As young as I was, I will never forget that time in San Ysidro.. Like many other times before, my brother was actually going to ride his bike down to McDonalds with David and other friends that day, but something happened to his bike, I think he had a flat tire, or something happened to his chain... So my mom made him stay home... His bike saved his life that day...sadly, not David's... I remember crying, but not being aloud to go to his funeral, I was too little for that; is what my parents told me. I remember the effect it had on his mom, and everyone in our tight little neighborhood. (We all lived in these houses that were all together, like apartment-type), and everyone knew each other and all the kids played together, etc. Just reading and writing about this now, and remembering, I feel so emotional about it, how close it was to all of us, how innocent lives were taken....and the aftermath... things were just not the same after... all "innocence" was lost... We used to go out playing at night, kids could ride their bikes more than just down the block, after that, people were scared...

NENA wrote on May 13, 2008 8:42 PM:I LOST MY FRIEND CHITO RIVERA IT WAS SHOCKING WHEN I HEARD ABOUT IT AT THAT TIME I WAS LIVING IN LOS ANGELES AND LATER ON I HEARD HE WAS ONE OF THE VICTIMS..........CHITO YOU ARE NEVER FORGOTTEN.

Dan wrote on Jun 1, 2008 6:06 AM:It is hard to belive that 20 yrs have passed since that unforgetable day. I was stationed at NTC San Diego at the time and was preparing to graduate from RMA school on the 20th. A friend and myself went to TJ that morning to pick up a few things before heading back home. For me that was the east coast. I was there twice that day, first before crossing the border and then before going back to base. To my horror later I saw some instructors weeping,only to hear about the insanity that just happened. Though I feel lucky to have been spared, I feel guilty for those that were lost. To the families that lost a part of their life that day, my heart will always be with you. I pray that time has been able to heal some of the wounds from that horrible day, but know it will never be forgotten. Though I may not remember the names of the fallen, thier memories will always be with me.

lt wrote on Jun 25, 2008 9:47 PM:I was in high school when it happened. My friend who lived in San Ysidro at the time called me during the incident. I could hear the gun shots through the telephone. I'll never forget.