Gunfire broke out
between two groups at a massive Halloween street party
in San Francisco's Castro district, wounding at least 10
people, including bystanders, police said Wednesday.
The shooting began around 10:40 p.m. Tuesday as
authorities were dispersing thousands of revelers
under a curfew aimed at controlling the traditionally
raucous party.
Two people were detained for questioning, but no
one had been arrested early Wednesday, police captain
Al Casciato said. He said two groups of people had
gotten into an altercation when the shooting began. One
victim was listed in critical condition at San
Francisco General Hospital.
The once-spontaneous and unsanctioned party was
taken over by the city four years ago after police
recorded five stabbings and a number of assaults and
confiscated a chain saw among a crowd of 500,000 people
in 2002. Officials and members of the district's large gay
community said the party had started attracting gay
bashers along with the usual colorfully costumed characters.
On Tuesday night, city officials ramped up the
police presence, reduced the number of entertainment
stages from three to one, and cut off the festivities
at 11 p.m.
''We had the sheriff's department screening
people for weapons and alcohol. Obviously you have a
major event--a lot of different spots'' to
patrol, said police spokesman Neville Gittens. ''I can't
explain how this happened. Unfortunately, it did
happen, and we are investigating to find out who is
the cause of the shooting.''
Ted Morales, 43, said he was working as a
volunteer security guard for the event when he ''heard
someone empty their gun'' in the crowd. ''When the
shooting happened, people just dove to the ground like a
wall of water,'' said Morales, who did not see what
led to the shooting. A woman standing near him was
grazed in the neck by a bullet, he said.
Sophia Vlahiotis, who owns Capri Ristorante
Pizza, just yards from the scene, was outside selling
pizzas when a crowd of people fleeing the bullets
began running in her direction. ''They pushed the table
over, the oven fell, and then I realized it was
gunshots,'' she said. ''They were trying to get into
the restaurant, there were so many people.''
Vlahiotis, who did not see what led to the
shooting, said this year may be her last participating
in the Halloween party. ''I'm still shaking,'' she
said. ''I don't know if I want to do this again. It's not
worth my life.'' (Louise Chu, AP)
