Arrests Made In Union Square Slaying Of German Tourist
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) -- Nine months after the shooting of a German Tourist near Union Square, San Francisco police on Wednesday announced seven arrests in the case.
"Today, the San Francisco police department served seven arrest warrants and six search warrants. As a result, seven people have been arrested: five adults and two juveniles," said SFPD Chief Greg Suhr.
Five of the arrests occured in San Francisco, police said. The other two happened in Fremont and Oakland.
Mechtild Schroer, 50, of Minden, Germany was killed last Aug. 8 while on vacation in San Francisco with her husband. They were celebrating her 50th birthday and the couple's wedding anniversary and were looking for a restaurant to have dinner when shots rang out at the intersection of Mason and Geary streets.
Police said one group of teenagers was firing at another group in an apparent gang dispute and the Schroers, innocent bystanders, got caught in the crossfire.
The SFPD initially arrested five people after the shooting, but let them all go after the District Attorney's Office said there wasn't enough evidence at the time to prosecute.
Police identified those arrested and charged on Wednesday as: Philip Stewart, 19, charged with murder; Marcos Blueford, 19, charged with murder; Delvon Scott, 20, charged with murder; Willie Eason, 19, charged with murder; Gethsamine Pita, 18, charged with accessory to murder; 2 un-named juveniles, charged with accessory to murder.
The seven charged "are members of a street gang," SFPD Lt. Lea Milatello said.
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