Mayor Jerry Sanders addressed San Diego's gang problem for the second straight day yesterday by asking the public to help in solving old cases and to stay involved by reporting crimes swiftly.
On Tuesday, Sanders introduced the city's first gang commission on prevention and intervention. Yesterday, he held a second news conference to stress that the public plays a major role in reducing gang violence.
“We need San Diegans to step forward and help us solve these crimes,” Sanders said. “When you look at the crimes that occurred in Hillcrest and Mission Beach, they were solved as a result of people stepping forward with information on the subjects.”
Sanders, local officials and police gang and homicide investigators called for the public's help particularly in Mira Mesa, where police said they have had a high number of gang crimes.
Gang activity, which includes violent and property crimes, is widespread throughout the city, officials said.
From January to Sept. 30, the police gang unit handled 232 felony cases. Police still have 61 open cases from years past for which they have little or no information, officials said.
Authorities highlighted three cases yesterday, all homicides:
Gilberto Regalado was killed Jan. 15 on Naranja Street near Euclid Avenue in Lincoln Park. Regalado was shot while standing with a group in a parking lot of an apartment complex.
Thanh Nguyen was shot July 7 on Mira Mesa Boulevard near Camino Ruiz. Police said Nguyen tried to drive away from another motorist who followed him and then shot him. Nguyen crashed his car and died. The shooter drove away.
Sharen Burton and Carol Waites, who were buying a firewood log at Dr. J's Liquor Store on Logan Avenue near Euclid Avenue on Jan. 1, 2003, when suspected gang members opened fire. Two young children were in a parked car with Burton when the shooting happened. One was critically injured.
“We know for a fact that there are people out there who can help us solve some of these crimes because they have valuable information,” Sanders said.
Police Chief William Lansdowne said the city has 3,500 documented gang members compared with the 75,000 documented gang members in Los Angeles.
Lansdowne said any information is valuable to investigators. People can pass along a tip and remain anonymous by calling San Diego County CrimeStoppers at (888) 580-8477.
