(KRON) There have been at least 20 shootings on highways in Contra Costa and Alameda counties since November, including 12 or more on Interstate 80.
CHP officials have said many of the shootings are suspected to be gang-related, but otherwise have released few details about their motive.
A man crashed on Interstate I-80 in Hercules Thursday night after he was shot twice, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The 25-year-old man was driving a black Nissan Altima on eastbound Highway 80 east of Pinole Valley Road at about 10:30 a.m.
Earlier in the week a woman, identified as 25-year-old San Francisco resident Shanique Marie, was shot and killed on state Highway 4 in Pittsburg on Wednesday morning. A man in the car with her was also wounded.
Pittsburg police said the shooting was targeted, but have not
A GoFundMe page has been set up for Marie.From the CHP Facebook page
CHP – Golden Gate Division
BAY AREA FREEWAY SHOOTINGS UPDATE
On May 12, 2016, at about 10:30 PM, a 25 year old male was driving a black Nissan Altima on I-80 eastbound, east of Pinole Valley Road, within the #1 lane when a white sedan pulled alongside him and an occupant within that vehicle opened fire. The male driver of the Nissan was shot twice in his right leg.
Tragically, this occurred only a day after a young mother was fatally shot on Highway 4. These recent shootings bring the total number of San Francisco’s East Bay Area freeway shootings to 20 since November 2015. Evidence suggests these shooting appear to be gang related, with different gangs involved. Gang shootings are extremely difficult to investigate, as victims and witnesses are often uncooperative with law enforcement investigators.
In all, there have been 11 people injured and 4 people killed as a result of these shootings. Highway 4 has had two shootings, I-80 has had a total of ten shootings, two shootings occurred on US-101, I-580 has had two shootings, and I-880 has had two shootings.
The CHP investigations are being handled by the CHP’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) in the Bay Area. The CHP Special Investigations Unit is working closely with the Contra Costa County / FBI Safe Streets Task Force, the Richmond Police Department (RPD), and other allied agencies. This Task Force is made up of federal, state, county and local law enforcement officers from throughout Contra Costa County, and is co-managed by the District Attorney and the FBI.
In addition to following investigative leads, the CHP, RPD, and the Task Force began conducting regular strategic enforcement operations in March, which target known gang members and their criminal operations. These enforcement operations are specifically tailored to address the gangs involved in the shootings.
Every act of violence committed by these criminals puts the people of California at risk, and in the case of freeway shootings particularly endangers innocent motorists. By CHP, RPD, and the task force working together toward one common goal, we have had a strong impact on gang shootings and gang violence both on the freeways and streets in Richmond.
The enforcement operations will include in-view patrol, and parole and probation searches. Narcotics and explosives detection canines will be used to help locate drugs and guns; CHP aircraft will also assist.
These enforcement operations are in addition to increased patrol which the CHP has put in place on the I-80 corridor.
We offer assurance to the public that we take their concerns very seriously and understand that although we know these shootings are not random, this fact can be of little consolation to the motoring public. We have made the investigation of these crimes a top priority, and are working diligently to apprehend the suspects.
We encourage anyone with any information on these shootings, no matter how small or insignificant that information may seem, to call the CHP’s Special Investigations Unit at (510) 622-4609 or 1-800-TELL-CHP.