SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) — South San Francisco police on Friday arrested a 21-year-old man suspected of shooting at a vehicle occupied by three men the day before, striking one victim.
Around 2:30 p.m. Thursday, police responded to a report of gunshots heard in the area of Chestnut and Grand avenues, police said.
Shortly after police received the report, a 29-year-old San Mateo man showed up at Seton Medical Center in Daly City. The man was suffering from a gunshot wound to his head, according to police.
Police learned the victim had been a passenger in a car being driven by two suspected gang members from San Bruno, police said.
The three were together because the victim, who works as a mechanic, was going to inspect a vehicle for repairs. While the trio was driving, a male suspect on foot shot at the vehicle, striking the victim, according to police.
The victim provided a suspect description and at about 6:30 p.m. the following day, San Mateo County gang task force officers noticed a man matching the suspect description walking near Willow Avenue and Marcie Circle, near where the previous day’s shooting happened, police said.
Officers attempted to speak to the man, who allegedly took off running and discarded a loaded firearm, police said.
Police recovered the discarded firearm and suspected it to be the gun used in Thursday’s shooting.
Police set up a perimeter around the area and quickly located the suspect, identified as Daly City resident Antonio Nava. Nava had previously resided in South San Francisco and allegedly has an affiliation with a known criminal street gang, according to police.
Police arrested Nava on suspicion of attempted murder, possession of a loaded firearm, participating in a criminal street gang and resisting, obstructing and delaying a peace officer, according to police.
The motive for the shooting remains under investigation, but police believe it is gang-related, police said. Police believe the suspect’s intended targets were the two alleged San Bruno gang members in the vehicle, not the victim.