San Leandro Homicide Victim Was Targeted: Police

SAN LEANDRO, CA- Investigators are still trying to determine whether a man shot dead outside a First Communion party in San Leandro on Sunday evening had been attending the party or was just walking by, a police lieutenant said today.

At this point, police have concluded that the man in his mid-20s was targeted in the shooting but have not determined the motive or whether it was gang-related, police Lt. Robert McManus said.

The victim has been identified as 28-year-old Dariel Arreola of Manteca.

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Officers found the man when they responded to reports of gunfire in the 13900 block of East 14th Street at 7:35 p.m., McManus said.

They found the victim on a walkway outside the main entrance of the San Leandro Senior Community Center, where a private First Communion party attended by 80 to 100 people was going on.

The shooting victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

As the shots were fired, a minivan sped out of the center parking lot. The driver slammed into another car on East 14th Street and then sheared a utility pole.

The occupants of the minivan ran from the crash scene and haven't been found, McManus said.

Investigators are still trying to determine whether the victim had been attending the party and whether the minivan occupants were involved in the shooting.

They are reviewing surveillance video and interviewing people who attended the party, McManus said.

Anyone with additional information has been asked to contact the San Leandro Police Department at (510) 577-3230.

--Bay City News