By Karina Alvarado and Andrea Hernandez, with information from Christian Herrera and the Redwood City Police Department.
Parents were notified via text message about a shooting in Hoover Park on the afternoon of Friday, August 19.
The official version of the authorities is that, according to a witness who was at the scene, two adult men were apparently having an argument in the center of the grass field, after which one of them took out a gun, pointed it at his opponent and fired several times, the subjects then fled the area where some children were with their parents.
Following the initial report to authorities, staff at The Boys & Girls Club called police to report that two of the windows in the vicinity were hit by bullets. Staff at the location confirmed that no one was injured by the gunfire, but that one of their employees was injured by one of the broken windows.
Meanwhile, Hoover Elementary School, which is south of the park and was still in operation, placed students and members of the school community on lockdown.
Thirty officers, two K-9 units, four sergeants and two lieutenants from the Redwood City Police Department, the San Mateo Sheriff's Office and the San Mateo Police Department responded to the scene. They also received support from the San Mateo County Gang Intelligence Unit.
Authorities escorted 300 students and 40 staff members to their families after a perimeter was set up around Hoover Park, Hoover Elementary School and the Boys & Girls Club to search for those responsible.
Following this, a search for evidence collected several .9mm ammunition casings in the center field of Hoover Park.
The Redwood City Police Department also advised residents to stay home and pay attention to warnings issued.
Later, a second shooting was reported and although there is no official information, residents claim that a person aboard a vehicle opened fire for no apparent reason in front of The Forest High School Center —located at 2001 Spring Street in Redwood City—, however hours later people continued with their recreational activities.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Redwood City Department of Investigations Unit at 650-780-7111.
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