Neighbors Stunned After 2 Boys Shot Dead While Sitting In Van Parked At Union City School
UNION CITY (CBS SF/KPIX) -- Two boys were shot and killed as they sat inside a van parked at Searles Elementary School in Union City early Saturday.
Police say around 1:30 a.m., an 11 and 14-year-old boy were sitting in a van in the school parking lot, when they were confronted by at least one shooter who opened fire. The older victim died on the scene. The younger died while being rushed to the hospital.
Police said they will not release the victims' names because they were minors.
"All of a sudden, we heard this pop, pop, pop, pop, I mean it just kept going, it almost sounded like a machine gun type, I mean it was just constant," said neighbor Gigi Erickson, who woke up from the sound of gunfire.
"I don't know why an 11 or 14-year-old boy would be out at that time in the morning," said Erickson. "I'm just so heartbroken that these kids had to go through that."
Police do not know whether the gunman approached by foot or in a car or if they had any relationship to the victims. It's unclear if the shooting was random or targeted.
"We don't know if they were there to meet somebody up, because it is kind of an isolated, secluded area," said Lt. Steve Mendez with Union City Police. "We haven't ruled out that this is gang-related, but we haven't been able to verify that information."
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Police have not ruled out the possibility that the incident was gang-related.
No suspects have been arrested and police closed Sherman Drive, between Colgate Drive and 15th Street for several hours for the investigation.
These were Union City's first two homicides of 2019, police said.
Many neighbors are stunned by the violence.
"My reaction this morning was surprise, this is a quiet neighborhood," said neighbor Cary Cristobal. "I was surprised this morning when the policeman sit right in front of my driveway."
Detectives are also investigating whether Saturday's shooting are connected in any way to an incident early Wednesday morning in which two men near the intersection of Eighth and C Streets in Union City; those two men were treated for their injuries and released.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to call Detective Joshua Clubb at (510) 675-5227. Information can also be provided using the police tip line at (510) 675-5207, or e-mailing tips@unioncity.org.
Calls and e-mail can be provided anonymously.
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