San Francisco police arrested two teenagers on Monday evening in connection with a triple shooting that left a 15-year-old girl dead and two other teens wounded near a playground in the Western Addition last Friday.
The male suspects, ages 15 and 16, were booked at the Juvenile Justice Center on suspicion of homicide. Their identities have not been released due to their ages.
The shooting occurred around 5:13 p.m. near Golden Gate Avenue and Laguna Street.
Plainclothes officers on routine patrol in the area witnessed a fight break out near Margaret S. Hayward Playground and were on the scene when the gunfire erupted, according to Sgt. Eric Wang of the SFPD Homicide Detail.
The deceased victim, later identified by the San Francisco Chronicle as Jayda Pearl Mabrey, was transported to San Francisco General Hospital, where she died from her injuries. A second 15-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy were also shot but are reported to be in stable condition.
“The fact that these victims and suspects are all teenagers is simply heartbreaking,” San Francisco Police Chief Derrick Lew said at a press conference on Tuesday. “Our youth should never be engaged in, or victims of, gun violence. It is my top priority and the top priority of the SFPD to prevent this kind of violence on our streets.”
Wang said investigators believe the shooting was an isolated incident that resulted from a disagreement or argument that got out of hand. While officers collected evidence and firearms from the scene, the department declined to specify whether they retrieved the specific weapon used in the killing.
The death marks the second homicide in San Francisco this year. Lew noted that while the low homicide rate is a significant milestone for the city, the numbers provide “no consolation to the victims in this case.”
San Francisco Supervisor Bilal Mahmood, who represents the district where the shooting occurred, said he has spoken with the deceased victim’s mother and is coordinating with the school district to provide crisis services for grieving students.
“An unimaginable tragedy has occurred. No mother or father should have to watch their child pass before they do,” Mahmood said. “I just want to acknowledge that because of SFPD, this could have been worse. And they worked really hard to make sure the situation was immediately contained.”
A GoFundMe set up on behalf of the Mabrey’s family said she was a “bright, fun-loving young girl who meant everything to those who knew her. She was a beloved daughter, sister, friend, and so much more. Her smile, laughter, and kind spirit touched so many lives, and her absence has left an unimaginable void.”
The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department is also responding to safety concerns regarding the proximity of the violence to a neighborhood playground.
Tamara Aparton, a spokesperson for the department, said that park rangers are stationed at the site daily to ensure safe access for everyone. Aparton added that the department is coordinating closely with police and conducting “passing calls” during night hours to maintain a security presence.
The investigation remains open and active. Police are asking anyone with information, video or photos from the scene to contact the SFPD tip line at 415-575-4444 or send an anonymous text to TIP411 and begin the message with “SFPD.”
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