HAYWARD, CA – A tragic shooting in Hayward has claimed the life of a 16-year-old girl, marking another incident in a disturbing trend of youth violence in the city. The fatal event occurred outside an apartment complex on West Tennyson Road, near Tyrell Avenue, shortly after 11 a.m. on Sunday. The exchange of gunfire, believed to involve multiple parties, also resulted in a 41-year-old man being struck by a stray bullet.
The Hayward Police Department has recovered a high-powered rifle and a stolen vehicle used in the incident, but no arrests have been made. Authorities suspect the shooting was targeted and linked to the girl’s family, although it remains unclear if she was the intended victim. Police Chief Brian Matthews emphasized the need for more community outreach to prevent such tragedies, highlighting that many recent homicide victims in Hayward have been teenagers.
Mayor Mark Salinas echoed the urgency for action, noting that the city is working to engage young people through internships, summer jobs, and camps. “We do not want this to happen again,” Salinas said, expressing his commitment to preventing further violence. The mayor acknowledged the challenges but stressed the importance of continued efforts to keep the youth occupied and safe.
Residents of the area are grappling with the increasing violence. Alicia Diaz, who lives nearby, lamented the changes in her community. “It seems to have gotten more violent than when I was a child,” she said, offering her prayers to the victim’s family. The identity of the 16-year-old girl has not been released, but it is known that she had recently attended a local school and was set to transfer to a Union City campus this fall.
The investigation is ongoing, with police reviewing witness statements and surveillance footage to piece together the events leading up to the shooting. As the community mourns another young life lost, officials are calling for greater cooperation from residents to help bring those responsible to justice.