OCEANSIDE: Two teenagers shot, one in critical condition
By SARAH GORDON - Staff Writer | ∞
OCEANSIDE ---- A 16-year-old boy was in critical condition Saturday and a 13-year-old boy was recovering after they were shot by unidentified assailants outside an Oceanside apartment complex Friday night, authorities said.
The youths were standing with a group in the parking lot behind the Sonoma Coast Apartments at 180 Canyon Drive, just south of Mission Avenue, about 9:45 p.m. when another small group approached, Oceanside police Officer Kim Rainwater said.
At least one person in the approaching group fired multiple rounds from a handgun, Rainwater said. The 16-year-old was shot several times, the younger boy at least once. Their friends scattered.
The suspects, described only as two or three Hispanic males, were last seen running away, Rainwater said.
The parking lot where the shooting occurred is between Canyon Drive and Libby Street. Bordered to the north by the back of a Mission Avenue strip mall and to the south by the back of the apartments, it forms a long, somewhat hidden, alley.
Neither of the shooting victims lived in the apartments, Rainwater said. One was from Vista and one was from a different part of Oceanside, she said, declining to be more specific or identify the victims.
The 16-year-old was fighting for his life at a local hospital Saturday, while the 13-year-old was in better shape and expected to recover, Rainwater said.
Detectives canvassed the neighborhood Friday and Saturday but were unable to get good suspect descriptions, Rainwater said. Police do not know if the shooting is gang related.
On Saturday, detectives had not yet conducted what could be the most important interviews , Rainwater said.
"Hopefully we'll be able to talk to the victims at some point and get statements," she said.
Life appeared normal Saturday at the large, two-story Sonoma Coast complex. Young children rode their bicycles in the parking lot where the shooting occurred, and many residents kept their doors open to let in the sun.
Most residents approached for comments were Spanish-speakers, and a translator was not available.
Peter, an 11-year-old boy who declined to give his last name, said he was on his bike near the parking lot at the time of the shooting. He said he saw about 10 people hanging out, heard four to five gunshots and saw some people from the original group scramble over the strip mall wall.
His mother yelled at him to get inside when she heard the shots, he said.
Peter said he assumed the shooting was gang-related. The area lies between two rival gangs' territories, he and Rainwater both noted. The group attacked in the lot is not from the complex but sometimes hangs out behind it, the boy added.
Rainwater said the 100-plus-unit building was the scene of several homicides in the 1990s but had been more peaceful in recent years before Friday night's shooting.
Contact staff writer Sarah Gordon at (760) 740-3517 or sgordon@nctimes.com.
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gang-related wrote on Aug 23, 2008 7:01 PM:just because it happened in disputed territory between rival gangs both with histories of violent behavior doesn't mean its gang-related.
Dude wrote on Aug 23, 2008 7:11 PM:This shows how out of control the gang problem is in Oceanside. We really need to bring law enforcement people into the City who have the guts to take on these gang bangers. Our cops just don't have what it takes to solve the gang problem. The governor should declare Marshall Law in the City of Oceanside and bring in the National Guard.
Solution wrote on Aug 23, 2008 7:48 PM:What we really need is more affordable housing...then these people would stay home and off the streets...yeah, RIGHT!
Oceanside man wrote on Aug 23, 2008 10:49 PM:This is gang counrty folks..You best all carry a gun for your protection. The police arn't gonna protect anyone. They are all too busy getting arrested for their crimes!
Concern wrote on Aug 24, 2008 3:35 AM:Here we go again, another gang members shot..now watch the knee jerk reaction from the City!!!!!! I did hear OPD did a good job, they were there real fast, the crowd treated them bad...oh, how do i know, i live there!
Debbie wrote on Aug 24, 2008 9:47 AM:There's violence where ever you go. You can't run from it. As well as gangs. It's not just gangs that do crime. Everybody (race) does something against the law. Hopefully they catch the people who did this.
USMCLIFE wrote on Aug 25, 2008 1:03 AM:This is not what the Marines in Iraq are fighting for. Kids playing with guns who have parents that have lost control of their family. I think the city is obligated to place signs in "KNOWN" high-risk area's for gang related shootings. How else can a person know if their in possible danger. Mine fields are marked as danger area's. Let's mark gang area's as danger area's. Property values will fall, merchants's will suffer and residents will be forced to straighten their neighborhood out (neighborhood watch programs, etc.) or continue to let known gang related families / members screw up their own families life. Catch a gun crime and convict...instant military with life at risk and duty in Irag.
usmclife wrote on Aug 25, 2008 1:14 AM:This is not what Marines are fighting for in Iraq. The parents of these kids need to be schooled on parenting. Gang members that get caught in any crime, then their parents should be required to attend mandatory parenting with their son or daughter. Get caught using a gun in a gang related crime. Instantly sent to Iraq so they can risk dieing for a cause worth dieing for. Known gang high-risk area's need to be marked with signage to alert the public. Mine fields are marked as deadly why not gang shooting area's. Ok, the property values will fall, businesses will suffer and if their smart, the neighborhood will take back their communittee. Why aren't we taking the drug money and buying camera's for known gang area's? It's not about privacy anymore, it's about safety / survival / servellance. Camera's are a lot more affective and cost a lot less then those shiny police motorcycles.
Me wrote on Aug 25, 2008 2:52 PM:Police won't and can't do anything. They even got the heck out of that neighborhood a few years back when the relocated the police station further down Mission Ave. Parents are a big part of the problem here. You know if your kid is up to something and you still let them out at night. Not in my house.
esteban wrote on Aug 25, 2008 4:12 PM:Dude, put your money where your mouth is and sign up. Then you can show OPD how to do it the right way.
TO_USMCLIFE wrote on Aug 25, 2008 6:22 PM:Here's another example of "they're fighting in iraq for our freedom!!! If they we're not over there we would have terrorist over here trying to kill us." Well save that, those me are fighting who now? i dont know about you but, i would be free if they weren't over there. They are brave to fight in a war. But who's war is it?
gangs wrote on Aug 25, 2008 6:49 PM:..have been around forever. thestructure of our society has to change if we want to see the gangs disapear. even then teenagers are always going to feel like the world is out to get them and therefore feel like their is "safety" in numbers. Talk to your kids that's all you can do the gang injunctions, grounding them for life picking thier friends can only do so much. hug your kids let them know they're loved because even if your kid isn't a gang member bullets don't know their targets positive thoughts and prayers are with the family of the 16 year old. no one deserves that not even a gang member (if that's what he is)
Hey esteban wrote on Aug 25, 2008 7:26 PM:Put your money where YOUR mouth is... you sign up and fight the gangs... since you are so sure YOUR the correct one here.... Grant money for DUI checks... but none for stepped up neighborhood policing programs... oh yeah... no money in catching gang members they cost money to catch...
u know me i live there wrote on Aug 26, 2008 2:56 AM:CONCERN, THE POLICE WAS THERE 25 MIN LATE AFTER THE AMBULANCE THE CALL WAS MADE TO SaVE A LIFE NOT TO PLAY GAMES U NEED TO KEEP UR THOUGHTS TO URSELF I DONT CARE IF U LIVE THERE OR NOT THAT WAS A FRIEND OF MINE KEEP QUIET AND MIND UR OWN BUSSINESS I WAS THERE ROUNDS WERE SHOT BUT U WERE HOME I WAS AIDING MY FRIEND KEEP PUSHING MY TEMPER DONT WORRY JUST LIKE U I LIVE THERE I GUESS THAT MAKES ME SPECIAL LIKE U ...
to concern wrote on Aug 26, 2008 3:05 AM:dear concern<
im not stating u that u are wrong wait i am u are wrong u ... the crowd treated the detectives and the officers very good fear was there would u know how to react if ur friend was shot in front of u while he is falling u are running rounds bursting i was there keep ur negatives thoughts to urself people react different wen a person u care for is in critical condition i guess ill post that i live there too who cares if i do that doest make me cool but guess wat i do and i was there i dont know who u are but ill see u around ...
To our little gang banger posters wrote on Aug 26, 2008 8:05 AM:You should worry more about getting an education and becoming a successful adult, if you keep on the path you are on, you could end up shot like your friend or worse DEAD! Was this your life’s ambition? Do you really think it's considered cool to walk around the neighborhoods shooting at other kids and tagging up walls, No sorry it's not. I wash my hands of the gang bangers in my neighborhood. I warned them of where there lives would end up and they didn’t listen, sure enough you can now visit about 5 of them in prison and probably a few of them in the local cemetery! If you show no will to turn your life around than don’t start running your mouth to the hard working adults around you when we feel no sympathy for you! You want to be cool and run in the gang life than be ready to be used for target practice… You show the world how ignorant and idiotic you are by this action. Instead show the world that you can accomplish something by getting an education and holding down a job and making something of your life... Because the road you’re on now only goes two ways 1. Is Prison and 2. Is DEAD!!!
chickenlittle wrote on Aug 26, 2008 8:25 AM:Is retaliation going on or is that just random gunfire going on near the 76/college intersection. Also more fights. I don't think they are the kids from the new Chavez school unless kids look more grown up now.
As a sidenote here. I can't help but wonder why I see kids hanging out in the exact spot where that boy was shot near Chavez school. Paying respects late at night I'm sure is what it is.
joke wrote on Aug 27, 2008 8:27 PM:To you know me i live there!!!! the Police were the 1st ones there, the the fire dept...get your facts together and learn how to spell!!
For Real wrote on Aug 29, 2008 9:30 AM:OPD was there within seconds, beat the ambulance there by minutes.
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