A 19-year-old college student visiting San Francisco on spring break was killed early Saturday morning.
San Francisco police spokesman Albie Esparza said the teen and his friend were walking in the 2600 block of Bryant Street about 3 a.m., when a man, about 30 years old, drove by and asked him if he was in a gang.
At that moment, the suspect shot the teen, who later died at the hospital. Esparza said that the teen was not in a gang, and that his friend was not injured. The shooting occurred near the teen's home, where a friend said that his father heard gunfire and saw his son bleeding on the stairs.
Family and friends identified the victim to NBC Bay Area as Javier Valdiviezo.
Vinnie Toth, who used to be Valdiviezo's P.E. coach in elementary school, described Vadiviezo as the "nicest kid," the kind of person who protected others against bullies and made sure anyone who was hungry had enough to eat.
On the Pioneer football team's website at Lewis and Clark, the school wrote how "deeply saddened" they were to learn of his death.
According to the school, Valdiviezo was a sophomore who was interested in economics.
Police are now looking for the man who killed him.
His friends told NBC Bay Area how much he loved the 49ers, and after his buddy, Omar Valle, asked the team on social media to honor his slain friend, team CEO Jed York and player Aldon Smith, tweeted their condolences.
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Valdieviezo's father, Carlos, who also loves the football team, said, "Thank you 49ers. That was very, very sweet."
Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to contact SFPD anonymously at 415-575-4444 or text-a-tip to TIP411 with "sfpd" in the beginning of the message. You may also contact Homicide Division at 415-553-1145.
NBC Bay Area's Kim Tere and Jasleen Moran contributed to this report.
