One of the most wonderful traditions of Pride Weekend in San Francisco is the “Pink Saturday” celebration on Castro Street on the Saturday night before Pride. The streets are closed to traffic and revelers and partiers dance in the streets in a joyous if crowded expression of the more celebritory side of Pride. Last night , Saturday June 26, the celebration turned violent with a shooting on the corner of 17th and Market and Castro (three streets intersect here at the “entrance” corner to the Casto) rang out into the night air around 11:24pm.
Three people were shot and injured, including one 19 year old who is in serious condition. The motive for the shooting is not known or reported yet, though video seems to suggest that maybe it was precipitated by an accusation of theft.
Violence of this sort is what precipitated the closure and ending of the annual Halloween Celebrations in the Castro through the inaction and half-assed leadership of Bevan Dufty the San Francisco City Supervisor who represents the Castro. He is running for Mayor in next year’s election. Will Dufty and city leaders follow the same path and allow this to be an excuse to end Pink Saturday celebrations?
Raw video footage of Police and an eye witness testimony http://cbs5.com/video/?id=66798@kpix.dayport.com
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5 Comments
Comments
This is so sad. I hope a couple jackasses don’t ruin things for everyone.
Okay so, this is it for me. I have never attended a Pink Saturday until this year. Person, I think that maybe it is time to put a stop to it. All it seems to me is nothing but a drug infested orgy. It doesn’t show my community’s PRIDE at all. Lets end it now and keep people safe
Update: Stephen Powell, 19 died Sunday of the wounds from the shooting. The two other victims who have been identified as by-standers were treated and their wounds were determined to not be life-threatening. Two arrests have been made and the perpetrators have been identified as gang members and not members of the LGBT community. Police believe that the shooter and his accomplice knew the victim. The police believe there is NO hate crime connection to this tragedy.
More footage from the scene that night
Gary, I’m saddened to hear your sentiments. It is as I feared: some will suggest that this isolated incident be used as an excuse to shut down a tradition that is part of what has made fro a vital and cohesive Gay neighborhood. Our celebrations are as important to our identity as our having a gay bar or a gay owned shoe store.
So sorry to hear about this!
More updated info: The suspected shooter has been identified as Ed Perkins, a 20 year old who knew his intended victim 19year old Stephen Powell. The Police are saying the shooting was the result of a personal dispute between the two.
How tragic–