Family Identifies San Francisco Boy Killed In Saturday Night Bayview Shooting
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- A 6-year-old boy fatally struck by gunfire Saturday night in San Francisco's Bayview District had been attending a birthday party, according to his family.
Officers initially responded to the Fourth of July shooting in the 1200 block of Ingalls Street around 10:45 p.m.
The child was taken to a hospital, but ultimately succumbed to his injuries, police said. An adult man was also found nearby and also was taken to the hospital. That man's wounds were non-life-threatening, according to authorities.
His family has identified the boy as Jace Young, according to a GoFundMe account.
"Who would have ever thought that a celebration would turn into a tragedy," Jace's family said. "The kid who could brighten up a room with his smile and blue glasses. His love for technology and always wanting to be around all of his family and friends. One thing that you could always count on Jace for is to be honest. He gave us all that he could; all that god put him on earth to give us and now we are left to pick up the pieces."
Jace's family is seeking to raise $20,000 for funeral arrangements via the GoFundMe page.
During a Monday afternoon Zoom press conference to address the shooting, San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said the gunshots originated from some distance away, but it's not clear from his description whether the shots were purposefully directed into a crowd or fired into the air as has happened in the past Fourth of July celebrations.
"We know where we believe the gunshots came from and that is being examined," Scott said. "It wasn't at the location where the immediate family was."
San Francisco Mayor London Breed and Bayview District Supervisor Shamann Walton issued a joint statement on the boy's death Monday afternoon.
"There are no words that will ease the pain of the senseless killing of a six-year-old boy. Our prayers are with the family of Jace Young at this moment, along with his friends and his entire community," the statement read. "But make no mistake: thoughts and prayers are not enough."
The statement went on to invoke the Black Lives Matter movement, noting that while the movement is about ending police violence, it is also "about investing in our Black children's lives and ending the gun violence that continues from generation to generation, because a boy like Jace Young
should have been able to grow up safely in his own community."
Walton also said he spoke with the child's father early Monday.
"The family is trying to wrap their hands around this and want to make sure that the memory of Jace Young is never forgotten," Walton said. "The mayor, I have had a conversation with her. We are both devastated. This is something that we are not going to tolerate in our city. And something that makes sure there is a response that leads to effective, aggressive, real change around gun violence."
Police described the suspects as two men, but didn't provide any other details.
Anyone with information is being asked to contact SFPD's 24-hour tip line at (415) 575-4444, or to text tips to TIP411 and begin the text message with "SFPD." Tipsters can remain anonymous.
