Grief counselors are at De Anza High School in Richmond and Pinole Middle School in Pinole today after a student who attended both schools was fatally shot in Richmond Sunday night, a school district spokesman said.
Oscar Hernandez, a 15-year-old San Pablo resident, was with a group of friends in the 2300 block of Aberdeen Way at about 6 p.m. when he was shot multiple times, Richmond police Sgt. Bisa French said.
He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died, police said.
Police are investigating whether a fistfight earlier in the day in the Hilltop Mall area could have led to the shooting, French said.
Police detained and questioned several of Hernandez's friends, but later released them.
The friends are known gang members but they are not believed to be the shooters, French said. Police have not determined whether Hernandez was associated with any gang.
West Contra Costa Unified School District spokesman Marin Trujillo said Hernandez had attended Pinole Middle School for most of the school year but was promoted to De Anza High School a few months ago.
French said he is the city's 18th homicide victim so far this year.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call homicide Detective Mike Rood at (510) 620-6625. Anonymous callers can phone (510) 232-TIPS.
