One dead, two others injured in Castro District ‘Pink Saturday’ shooting
(6/27) — 19:34 PDT — SAN FRANCISCO — A late night shooting in San Francisco’s Castro District during the city’s “Pink Saturday” celebration claimed the life of a 19-year-old man and left two others with non-life threatening injuries, police said.
The dead man was identified Sunday morning as Stephen Powell, according to the San Francisco Medical Examiner’s Office. Two other victims, a male and a female, were struck by gunfire in the legs and are expected to survive their injuries. Authorities did not release their names.
The shooting happened at 11:30 p.m. near the intersection of Market and Castro Sts. when an unidentified 19 year-old male pulled out a gun and began firing.
Witnesses who attended Pink Saturday celebrations in the Castro District described a scene of bedlam after the shooting. Police officers who raced to the sounds of the gunfire encountered a large crowd, some of whom began throwing bottles and other objects after the shooting.
“I saw a massive wave of cops with their guns drawn coming to our area,” said Eric Gonzales, who said he was 25 feet away from the shooting suspect. “Then people started screaming and running away so I went back to the ground thinking ‘oh my god this is real.’”
Gonzales provided video to the Beat showing the medical response shortly after shooting.
The gunman was arrested by police at the scene. The pistol he used was recovered as evidence.
Police did not immediately release a motive to the shooting, but believe that the gunman likely knew one or more of the victims.
Authorities do not believe that the shooting was a hate crime or a random act of violence.
San Francisco hosted the 40th annual Pride Parade which started at 10:30 a.m Sunday. Police reported no violence during that event.
The shooting occurred on a busy night in the Castro District, where thousands of revelers were celebrating “Pink Saturday,” an annual Gay Pride event that draws crowds from around the world.
“It was incredibly scary,” Gonzales said. “I’m from LA and it’s my first time at SF Pink Party. Within 20 minutes of arriving, the gun shots went off.”
An earlier version of this story has been corrected.
Contact the Beat at news@californiabeat.org.
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What gay bar? It happened in front of Pottery Barn. Not outside a gay nightclub.
That which does not kill us makes us stronger! We will not go quietly into the night. People hate the things about themselves they see in others. Let he without sin cast the first stone!!!
It was NOT outside a gay nightclub. It was some jerkoff with a gun that decided to just shoot people.
KEEP THE GHETTO TRASH OUT OF SAN FRANCISCO!
Our thoughts withour Brothers and Sisters! Be strong, stand forth! Never again!
every time san francisco has a good party west oakland thugs losers bring there 14 kids and their guns and ruin it for everyone all ghetto this year no gays just a dark sea of thugs and bad weaves everywhere you look. I am black I am ashamed of my own people for the way they act in public. its shameful get out of our city and stay home and kill each other
Omg! This is horrible. Why does some drunk idiot have to go and do that? Can’t you leave people alone? I hope they catch you & beat your ass! Sicko! I pray that my friends are safe down there. I love you Sab, Sean,Lynn & the rest of the crew.
Absolutely!! NO more ghetto trash from the scuzz pits of the Bay Area! This used to be a great, innocent good-time event. It’s now been ruined along with the senseless over-crowdedness of trouble-making unmentionables.
Thank god and the second amendment that we can all carry firearms to protect ourselves from those we disagree with right? I just wish there was a hell for stupid bigots to burn in. Why are guns okay???
P.s. deon I am white but totally get it… can we make out?
This is tragic! People have always been crazy, but this insane!
Typical. And it’s always those ghetto trash from every part of east bay ARE always responsible. I wish you get what YOU deserve.
This is just horrible!! I think it is so sad that people can’t even go & have fun anymore. Someone with a weapon of some kind always has to ruin it! Why can’t people just live in peace & harmony? Our hearts & prayers go out to the families of the victims & hope severe justice is served to the offenders. If you want to be a thug then go home & do it in your own neighborhood, not go other places & take it out on them. Just jealous that others are having fun!!
Why is it that the ghetto ends up coming to all the peaceful street parties in Sf and make fools of themselves.
Maybe because they had a very poorly thought out center stage with performances by mr gay sf and gay black rap star trying to cash in on gay pride keep that low class crap in Oakland where it belongs. With the projects come the rejects and all them baby Daddys and mamas with their 10 kids acting like fools spending our taxes on their welfare and food stamps and now we have to pay to keep this thug in jail he should be shot we would save a few bucks. These idiots were getting high the entire Castro stank last night very sad to see the scene get ruined I’m glad the thug got arrested
Wow, the comments posted reek of liberal racism. It’s unfortnate that Pink Saturday turned violent and innocent people were injured. But just as San Francisco reeks of liberal racism, I see the Castro reeks of liberal racism as well. And you wonder why folks voted “yes on 8″. It’s a cycle of hatred people. Pray for the injured, but don’t let hate for the suspected perps fill your heart. Don’t let hatred win. I really pray that some day San Francisco will embrace diversity. The violence and hate in San Francisco breaks my heart. I hope today, the festivities at Civic Center are fun-filled and prideful.
my prayers to all who were effected. I want to give a shout out to the San Francisco Police Department. I am not a cop but a civil rights attorney from a new england urban city with a serious gang problem. I have never seen a more professional department with a great attitude to handle such a crazy day of revelry. In most places they intimidate you, here they seem to be able to it effectively by engaging people. I was already impressed with their way of handling the colorful days events by city hall but the response to the shooting and resulting chaos was phenomimal. I don’t know if San Franciscans realize how blessed they are.
As A Member Of The Oakland Wrecking Crew I Want To Express My Sorrow That The Fools Can’t Shoot Straight! I’m Surprised A Baby In A Second Floor Apt. Didn’t Get Hit. I Say No More Raiders Fans In The City. Go Niners!
AnnMarie, these kind of articles always bring out the racist comments. Don’t assume they are coming from the Castro or even from San Francisco. Anyone from any place can get on the internet and write a comment. You’re own right-wing assumptions are just as biased.
The ignorant + bad drugs = HELL
My hope is that all the posers in the world can get their heads outta their FEARS and get an epiphany some the heck how.
don’t have all the answers, but, hate comes in all sectors-
HATERS MAKE LIFE HELL, 4 WHAT? IGNORANCE AND NEGLECT BREED INTOLERANCE AND JUDGEMENTS.
pissed again, but, am not giving up on the good in people
Education in CALIFORNIA IS A DAMN NECCESITY/ WTF!!!
As we age this generation will be our prospctive care-takers.*
Who are they learning from and where can they get some value
for life?
A word in the means of peace; however it is found,
let’s all keep this in thought, action, prayer, whatever
the method that works for each of all that care to care.
We need SOLUTIONS, which requires honesty. And quite frankly
I am saddened by peoples inclination to have double sided lives
due to the powers that influence coming from the dark ages telling
others what is right and wrong, other than plain respect adn all that that entails.
I can’t claim to have complete answers; none of us can. It seems that anger rules the actions against perpretraitors. And is it fear and anger that is bringing down these misguided souls. Damn.
Are those who want to “keep the ghetto trash out” advocating that San Francisco disallow “undesirables” from entering certain parts of the city? How do you determine who is undesirable and who isn’t? Who will make those decisions? Let’s not forget that in some places gays and lesbians are considered to be “undesirable.” This rhetoric sounds a lot like the anti-gay and anti-lesbian spew we hear from the Religious Right. How ironic to hear this coming from San Franciscans on the day they commemorate the Stonewall uprising and the beginning of the gay rights movement.
I’m sure Harvey Milk would be proud to hear this.
IT IS NOT LIBERAL RACISM…. YOU ARE STARTING TO SOUND LIKE ADVOCATES of JIM CROW…Lets keep all those brown kids away, then ruin “our” fun. Who is allowed in your LGBT community and pink saturday.
By saying there is no way those “brown kids”, “street7gang kids” “people from west oakland” ruin SF events is to be completely racist, clasist, and xenophobic, it also means YOU are deeply disassociated from the current complexities of contemporary life in any major urban area.
And BTW Most violence LGBT people face is within their OWN community, relationship, familial violence and such. These deaths are sad and the impact is broad.
Violence LGBT folks experience is broad, and includes the racist comments you all spouted.
Alright I wasn’t there but someone I know was, this is really sad to hear happen, I wouldn’t suppose it’s ghetto or drunk, there are messed up people out there and it could of been thought out to try to stop the parade today, more than anything it should everyone’s pride stronger and go for the sake of the people that got shot
I am just very thankful my daughter and all her friends are safe. Some of them were in the heart of the issue. It is a very sad day when one is not safe to go to a festival or gathering for fear of being shot or killed. Our hearts with those that were short and hurt in anyway from this foul moment in time. I just spoke to my daughter and she said they are fine and so far as she is aware all her friends are as well. Have fun at the parade ;o) love to all
I believe the Japanese have a very good system for dealing with theri Yakuza gangs. They prosecute everyone associated with a gang crime, anyone accompanying them, anyone flagging their colors. They call it “strategic investigation”. If one gang member gets busted for murder they all get sentenced; guilty by association. Unless America can gets its f*&king guns under control I can’t think of a better idea.
why not simply not allow weapons inside the party? there are gates at every entrance. check for guns!
REST IN PEACE TO THE NIGGA STEVE!! U WILL TRUELY BE MISSED
agreed with out of towner. I feel so bad for being rude to a cop last night who was trying to hustle me out the wrong direction from my home last night. I had no idea there had been a shooting. In the ten years I’ve lived here the cops have always been very supportive and in fact have cleared the streets for impromptu protests the other year. My apologies if the cops are reading!!!!!
why is everyone linking the shooting to “ghetto oaklanders” stop creating the image that some black kid from oakland went all wild on the gays in sf. most of the angry people at the march were straight white men that couldn’t hold their liquor or keep their hands off the lesbian marchers. STOP BEING RACIST!
I was there when the gun fire erupted. EVERYONE ran from the scene EXCEPT the Cops who heroically ran towards the gun fire. They not only ran to the victims and rendered aid immediately they ran through the CHAOS of thousands of screaming bottle wielding thugs and tackled a 19 yr old black male with a gun in his hand. They had every right and would have been justified on shooting and killing this punk, but because so many innocent people were around, they continued to put their lives at risk and wrestle the gun out of his hands to make sure no stray bullet hit another innocent person. “You had to see it to believe it, I thought are these guys nuts they are going to get shot too”
Hey Supervisor Compost let’s cut some Cops Salaries and lay off Cops, Moron!!!
Wow.. I left just before this happened.
In regards to the “scene” that was present at Castro last night, I will say that the majority of people that made me uncomfortable were drunk men of all races. I wouldn’t blame all of the problems of African Americans or other ethnic groups that happened to be there, because I definitely was grabbed by a white guy or two while dancing, but I consider that a much less serious offense than shootings. The fact that this idiot could have shot me or one of my friends on accident while trying to shoot someone he was upset with scares me and Im wondering how we can possibly work to prevent this sort of thing from happening in the future?
Maybe more money alloted toward education than prisons…
whoa people. what’s with all the racist hate here. don’t you see that you are doing the same exact thing with all of these comments…
and that what is coming out of you right now, that lives in your hearts…is the very same thing?? someone “can’t help” where they were born- into what class- anymore than you “can’t help” being gay.
may those who were wounded heal quickly. may the young man who died be free…and those who loved him be held as they grieve.
may we all be free of hatred. happy pride from a dyke sister.
Yes. I was annoyed by all the folks who really did not add to our celebration. They took away our Halloween. We must not let them take away our Pink Saturday/Pride.
Unfortunately, the only idea I can come up with is to create a stricter and higher cover charge. This will help pay to have enough security to prevent these folks and guns and knives from entering the event.
like I said i was there the only people that were making a scene were obviously gang banger trash I spent the afternoon watching from my doorway the groups of black men come push folks around walk around in a intimidating manner. most of the younger crowd was just having fun and being crazy drunk but there were certainly gangs there and hostility throughout the evening perpetrated on gay white males not each other and woman that would be to difficult for these cowards they only have the balls to mess with gay men they think they can push around. and for anyone to say gays harm each other with violence is just as ignorant as the dipsticks that came from the projects to party and ruin yet another event in san francisco that raises money for charities that they use until to money runs dry give me a break I am black african american I am am calling it just how I saw it. despicable and sad as always. teach your kids to get along and take away there guns set a good example and educate or better yet get an education before you pop out 9 kids in 9 years welfare cant be that good.
Thank you Deon! Max you are an idiot! Hate crimes against GLBT people are on the rise thanks to idots like you who choose to believe lies spread by the conservative media. Liberal racism Anne Marie? Seems like you learned a new term, one that is definetly a contradiction in terms, which also lands you in the stupid idiot catagory. You are both guilty of believing whatever you want regardless of the facts. I am a San Francisco native. I have seen our celebrations in the gay community become magnets for gang violence and hate. Now why are gangs coming to gay events? Are these gay gang bangers? I have never heard of gay gangs? Damn gay ganstas! I was there last night…I was performing as a big beautiful purple drag cheerleader with 10 other big purple drag cheerleaders making people laugh and enjoy themselves. I witnessed what Deon did. A whole lot of people who were not really there for celebrating but for posturing and intimidating others (all Oakland East Bay and yes all very young and Ghetto). Yes it is true wingnuts, believe what I say, why would I lie?…..I have seen this phenomena grow over the years. First they ruined Halloween and now our Gay pride? That is the issue here you other right wingednut idiots who don’t know what the hell you are talking about. How would you like it if some gay people came and started making out on your suburban lawns? What we are talking about is ignorant homophobic African American gansters coming into our community and making trouble at our celebrations. They usually shoot each other up and basically take a big piss all over our celebration of human rights. It has gotten worse and worse every year. A message to you Gay Gangsta’s. Violence is not welcome in the Castro, so don’t bring it. How many of you idiots need to get arrested to figure that out? You never get away with it…..so just stop! Just stop coming please, you are not welcome!
So someone was killed and two people were also shot? Sad.
I actually heard the shots. At first, I didn’t think anything of it. No one nearby really reacted from what I could see, so I shrugged it off thinking they were some loud poppers (party favores) or something. But then I look in front of me and this young woman stops in her tracks and and stares past me with a freaked out expression. I look behind me and people start sprinting by and pushing through the crowd, all looking freaked out or confused. So I grabbed my cousins hand and started running through the crowd as well. A lot of cops (a HUGE line of them) were rushing by us as we went the opposite direction.
The crazy part is, I had been sitting near the area where I heard the shots come from about a minute prior. If we had decided to walk back into the crowd half a minute later, we could have been in the exact area the shooting happened.
Tragic event, but funny how quickly one “disenfranchised” group comes out of the closet with it’s racism. Keep it up, see how much support your community will get when tragedies like this occur. Let the world know how racist San Francisco’s largely white gay community is and you’ll bring out the conservatives in the rest of us.
RV, gays don’t go around arbitrarily shooting people. I know that seems like a subtle difference but it’s worth noting. If this gunman really does turn out to be an ex-lover I’ll eat my words. Until then…
To anyone that thinks these postings are racist, provide the date and place of ANY Castro street party shooting/stabbing that hasn’t been gang related.
You may choose to be gay, born “ghetto trash” or HATE guns but the fact remains one was killed and two were hurt. If Christians were stabbed in Beverly Hills by Barack Obama it would not be any more acceptable. Gay, gun & ghetto blame does not cut it. Stop attacking and blaming what you don’t agree with or you are no better than the sick person who attacked these three.
Hi,
I’m a female biker with an all women’s motorcyle club with several chapters in California due to this, we know some people associated with “1 percenter” outlaw MCs (some of whom are part of State Club Coalitions with bikers of all backgrounds) which is unavoidable if you want to . I’m down in Southern California, but we have a chapter of sisters out of San Jose who usually get the REAL story. a couple of our sisters from that chapter were at the Pride festivities.
The information that they got from 2 outlaw MC’s known as the Mongols and Top hatters, they relayed to us, was that there was a “throw down” or confrontation planned to happen between gang members in the Bay Area, belonging to the “Nortenos and Surenos” (hispanic and some other races working for them, black, white etc…) two vicious criminal “mafia” types of organizations.
One of them got drunk, thought he got offended via his homophobic pathology, set off by some transgression in his mind and started shooting.
The Mongols MC has ties to the “Surenos:”.
A lot of them reside and operate right in the city of San Francisco besides the surrounding areas, so I wouldn’t exactly throw the blame on people from the Oakland area.
@Dave
Umm, being gay or lesbian is not a “choice”, one is born as such just as one may be born into a ghetto.
And when speaking of “ghetto trash” I sincerely hope that you specifically mean the bad element of people living among other black law abiding citizens who are from the ghetto. I’m an African American women and I am so sick and tired of people who broadly blame violence on me or other innocent African Americans.
It is not racist to point out the fact that every time there is violence in the Castro the perpetrators are of African decent and usually from Oakland. Those of us who live in San Francisco and particularly the Castro are sick and tired of people coming in to our city and especially our neighborhood and bringing their low life, street thug, hip-hop, “hood” mentality and behavior with them.
We no longer can host the fabulous Halloween party we use to hold in the Castro because of this same problem, caused by the same people. We have no intention of letting the same thing happen to Pink Saturday or Pride.
Also I want to point out that relationships between the gay and black communities was not helped by the fact that the vast majority of black voters voted in favor of prop. 8, and were directly responsible for repeal of gay marriage rights.
If you can’t behave like civilized people, or people at all, stay out of the Castro and out of San Francisco otherwise don’t be surprised if we take measures to keep you . Our actions will be based on the “content of your character” which happens to directly correlate with the color of your skin.
ALL:
From SFPD and various news agencies:
“The man who allegedly shot and killed 19-year-old Stephen Powell during Gay Pride’s Pink Saturday party has been identified as 20-year-old SAN FRANCISCAN Ed Perkins.”
The counsel rests it’s case…
(This comment has been moderated because it violates the Beat Terms of Service comment policy.)
I read some of the comments and much to my dismay , the smugness and racism of many San Franciscans is still alive and well today. I happen to be a progressive black male, who left the bay area for another city in California back in 1984 because I experienced back then, way too much of this same liberal racism that’s communicated in the comments here. And what I find to be really sad is that the people making the comments rarely take ownership for their part in what caused the problem. I can speak authoritatively to this because I have many years of experience with producing one of the largest events in the state. I wonder if the individual slamming the east bay and making some of these racist comments even once thought about ; 1. If you invite a rap artist to perform at the event, your event will attract persons interested in seeing that rap artist. If the artist specializes in any form of gangsta rap, and your event is a low cost or free of charge, that adds more a possibility that you will attract this kind of trouble. 2. Is anyone addressing this with the person who is responsible for the entertainment line-up? I would be asking them some questions like what were you thinking? 3. Also when you have very large crowds for any reason, and you don’t take extra steps to provide an additional levels of security, you are playing Russian Roulette. In other locales, this street party wouldn’t have even been allowed to happen unless there were better assurances and additional security was provided like random bag checks for weapons and drugs. This is something that should be done especially if a big name performer is going to be present . What else I find amusing with these attitudes still persisting about Oakland when more and more non-black gays are moving there because they can’t afford to live in SF anymore. Perhaps they will ‘gentrify away’ the problem. And then Oakland will no longer be the ‘getto’ that they are complaining about. Some of these complainers may even wake up and realize that many of the problems in Oakland only exist because of the disparity and inequalities in our society. This is yet another product of racism. Also, part of what perpetuates the problem in Oakland is the heavy drug culture that still exists in SF. The drugs have to get to SF somehow. By the way. I have been to the Pink Party. I was there last year and, if you are wondering, Yes, I am gay.
I also heard a woman outside 440 bar was beaten and kicked to the ground. Whats going on??? Looks like we might have to fight to keep our Pink Saturday next year…wouldnt be surprised if they cancelled it.
It’s not racism when it’s simply a fact. It’s gang violence that ruined Halloween in the Castro and it’s the same violence that will probably result in Pink Saturday being canceled. It was hard to have a good time with friends when you’re constantly getting drinks spilled all over you, pick-pocketed by street trash, and rude, drunk, underage people pushing you all over the place. These gangs don’t need to come to this party. Stay in your own neighborhoods and shoot each other. This is a party for those celebrating Pride. I find it hard to believe that most of the people there care about Pride, gay rights, etc. It’s one big messy street party for them. I have friends of all races who happen to be law-abiding citizens and contributing members of society. I’m not racist…I don’t care to be around trash or gangs no matter what their ethnicity is. Thanks for ruining what is supposed to be a time of celebration.