San Francisco security guard shot and killed by teen in Japantown, police say
Sister remembers security guard shot and killed in SF's Japantown as kind and nurturing
A 15-year-old is in custody, accused of shooting and killing a security guard in San Francisco Japantown on Wednesday. A second boy, accused of helping him, is also in custody. The 40-year-old guard has been identified. His sister says he was escorting the teen suspect out of the mall. He had a gun and opened fire. She describes him as kind and nurturing.
SAN FRANCISCO - A security guard was shot and killed Wednesday in San Francisco's Japantown.
The guard, Gavin Boston, 40, was found near Webster and Post streets around 5:07 p.m., suffering from a gunshot wound, according to San Francisco police.
Officers attempted lifesaving measures, but he died at the scene.
SFPD arrested two teen boys after investigating the crime scene.
A 15-year-old was arrested for murder, and a 14-year-old was arrested for accessory to murder. They were both booked into the Juvenile Justice Center.
Flowers and candles mark the spot where was shot and killed.
"It's a tragedy. It really is a tragedy, I think Japantown as a whole and our surrounding neighborhoods," said Grace Horikiri, executive director of the Japantown Community Benefit District.
"We all lost not one life, but really you know the two suspects, so three lives were lost," Horikiri said.
Boston's sister Carla Seawright said of the suspect, "I don’t understand why is it that – he looked like a little tiny kid. I mean, he looked so small."
Seawright said her brother was escorting the 15-year-old boy out of the mall because he had been acting inappropriately. Once outside, police say that teenager opened fire.
"Why does he got a gun? Why? Why is a kid in this neighborhood walking around with a gun?" Seawright asked.
San Francisco police Capt. Derrick Jackson and officers from Northern station were a visible presence at the mall Thursday to calm nerves in Japantown. The goal was "to come out, let them know we're supporting them, you know, this was a tragic event," Jackson said.
Ritsuko Suzuki owns a bonsai shop in the mall.
"It's not fair," she said. "It's more than sad. Everybody, every tenant is sad.
Boston had only worked at the building for two months, after management changed security firms. But in that short time, tenants said the guard had made a difference.
"He was the best of the best security guy," Suzuki said. "When we need him, je always be there. Always. So fast."
The Rev. Amos Brown stopped by the mall.
"Most unfortunate situation, the loss of another life, because somebody was not disciplined, trained, exposed and given guidance," Brown said.
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