Man Admits To Gang Shooting That Wounded 9 In San Francisco: Prosecutors

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A Richmond man who shot nine people while trying to attack a rival gang in San Francisco more than three years ago was sentenced Monday to decades in prison, prosecutors said.

As part of an agreement with San Francisco prosecutors, Javier Campos, 26, pleaded guilty to one count of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and admitted that he personally and intentionally used a firearm in the commission of this crime, that he personally inflicted great bodily injury on the victims and that he committed this crime for the benefit of a criminal street gang.

"Mr. Campos’s plea of guilty will hold him accountable for this terrible act of violence," Assistant District Attorney Robert Perkins said. "The plea agreement and state prison sentence ensures that residents of this city will be kept safe from indiscriminate gang violence."

Campos, who is affiliated with the Sureño street gang, was aiming at Norteño street gang members when he opened fire from a car in a public area of the Mission just after 9 p.m. on June 9, as a party hosted by a clothing store happened nearby, according to details from the San Francisco District Attorney's Office and police.

When officers arrived, they saw nine people in the area with gunshot wounds, prosecutors said.

It's unclear if any of the victims were the intended target. They each appeared to have survived their injuries.

Campos, who had several outstanding warrants for his arrest from multiple Bay Area agencies, was taken into custody in connection with the shooting on June 14, 2023.

"This sentence reflects the gravity of Mr. Campos’ crimes and holds him accountable," District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said. "When he opened fire into a public area, he showed a complete disregard for the lives of every person on that street."

The Sureños are a transnational street gang made up of hundreds of cliques across the United States. They're under the flagship of the Mexican mafia.

Like their rivals, Norteños, they originated within the California prison system after a Hispanic inmate from northern California was killed by a member of the Mexican mafia. This led to the creation of "La Nuestra Familia," according to the Department of Justice.

Today, both gangs are known to run criminal enterprises that include extortion, murder and trafficking, authorities said.