Academy of Art University President Elisa Stephens remembered a 21-year-old student killed in a hit-and-run in San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood last week as a "talented artist, good student and kind person."
Luis Armando Prieto, of San Francisco, was walking with his brother when he was struck and killed at 2:20 a.m. Friday at Columbus and Vallejo streets. Police say the suspects in the car were involved in a non-injury shooting a few blocks away in the 500 block of Broadway just before the crash.
In a statement released this afternoon, Stephens said, "I would like to express how deeply saddened I am by the loss of one of our students, Luis Armando Prieto, whose life was tragically cut short last Friday. I have reached out to Luis' family to extend my heartfelt condolences and to let them know our thoughts and prayers are with them and Luis' friends during this difficult time."
She said Prieto studied illustration and calligraphy and that his death is "a terrible loss to the Academy family and to the arts community as a whole."
Three arrests have been made in connection with the Friday incident.
The alleged driver, Oscar Alejandre, 21, of San Pablo, was arrested following the crash and has been charged with multiple crimes, including second-degree murder and gross vehicular manslaughter.
Two others are also charged in connection with the incident.
According to police, Alejandre was with Fidel Bejarano, 24, of Hercules, and Andrea Luna, 22, of Richmond, at a nearby North Beach strip club on Friday night.
Police were called to a parking lot in the 500 block of Broadway and were attempting to break up a fight when they heard gunshots nearby. No injuries were reported and the circumstances surrounding the shooting are still under investigation.
Officers then saw a gray Nissan Maxima speeding from the area with its lights off when it struck Prieto, police said.
The Maxima was found abandoned, with front-end and windshield damage, several blocks away in the 600 block of Lombard Street, and Alejandre and Bejarano were arrested nearby, police said.
According to police, a handgun was found inside Luna's purse in the car. She was arrested later in the morning.
Two other guns were recovered, one near the car and another where the shooting took place, police said.
Prosecutors have charged Bejarano, who they said was a passenger in the Maxima and also fired a gun on Broadway, with multiple weapon and drug charges.
Luna was also charged with weapons and drug counts.
