Deadly shooting of 16-year-old latest in string of youth violence in Hayward
Hayward police are investigating a shooting that killed a teenage girl Sunday morning in the Harder-Tennyson neighborhood, the latest in a string of violent incidents targeting youth.
Around 11:15 a.m., officers were alerted to a report of a shooting near the 900 block of West Tennyson Road. When they arrived at the scene, they found a 16-year-old girl suffering from gunshot wounds, according to police.
She was sent to a local hospital where she was later pronounced dead due to the severity of her injuries.
Police said that a second shooting victim was found near the 28000 block of Ruus Road. The victim, a 41-year-old Hayward resident, was transported to a local hospital where he received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.
Investigators said it was unlikely that the victims knew each other.
The teen's death marks the 8th homicide for the city this year, and the 4th in the month of July.
Mayor Mark Salinas says he's always devastated when he gets the call that there has been a homicide in the city. But finding out the victim was just 16, hits even harder.
"When something like this happens I take it very personal," Salinas told CBS News Bay Area. "Nobody likes to see children die at the end of a gun."
Police Chief Bryan Matthews says they're still trying to determine her involvement in the incident.
"We don't know if this teenager was an intended target. What we do know, based on evidence that we've recovered, is it appears that there was a gunfire exchange between two separate parties," said Matthews. "Don't know at this point if she was caught in the crossfires or if she was actually an intended victim."
Matthews said they've seen an increase in the number of young people involved in crimes, and they're trying to determine why.
"We're working with our regional law enforcement partners," the chief said. "The Sheriff and the county chiefs meet on a monthly basis, talk about crime trends. There are concerns involving crime, particularly violent crime right now in the county with juveniles. That is something we're collectively trying to strategize around and address."
Salinas said he's also working on keeping kids safe and out of trouble.
"What I have been doing is working with the president of Cal State East Bay, the president of Chabot College and our school superintendent. I have been working with them to develop ways to keep youth engaged in activities, especially during the summer that are substantive and enriching," the mayor told CBS News Bay Area. "At the end of the day, it is our responsibility as adults to make sure every child in our city is safe and healthy and free of any violence."
Police have not yet released the identities of the victims.
Anyone with information about the shootings is asked to call Hayward police at (510) 293-7176 and refer to case no. 2024-41753.