Stephen Ellison

Hayward Police Investigate Rash of Fatal Shootings

Hayward police are investigating a rash of deadly shootings in the city, including three in two days over the weekend.

In one homicide, there's been an arrest, but in the other two incidents no one is in custody, and Hayward police say they've never seen this level of violence in this period of time.

On Saturday night, a 17-year-old was killed and two others were wounded on Muir Street.

"The victim is Hispanic; all the victims are Hispanic," said Sgt. Ryan Cantrell. "No suspect information, no vehicle information at this time, but we're not ruling out gang-related. We're looking at everything right now."

One neighbor said she heard about 15 shots fired. She is worried for her family.

"I feel sad because I have three kids," said Martina Vavarez. "They're small, and sometimes they go outside to play. I thought this place was quiet."

On Friday night, an 18-year-old man was found shot to death in a car near the corner of Gading and Harder roads. No arrests have been made in that case.

And just a few hours before that killing, a man was found shot to death in his home on Thorup Lane. A woman has been arrested for that crime, police said, but Hayward now has seven homicides this year, four of them just last week, and three in about 24 hours.

"We have had multiple in a day or multiple in an incident but never had that many incidents within a 24-hour period or for that matter in a week," Cantrell said.

Hayward police said witnesses have come forward, and they are looking for more help. They remind the public that assistance can be offered anonymously.

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