Girl, 12, caught in gunfire at school

Karen Zekan

Wednesday, June 4, 1997 | 10:33 a.m.

Metro Police suspect gunfire that critically wounded a 12-year-old girl playing with friends on an elementary school basketball court may have been intended for a "snitch."

"There's talk that it may have been in retaliation for someone testifying about someone else -- a snitch situation," said Sgt. Jim Owens of Metro's gang detail. "It may not have been directed specifically at her."

The victim underwent surgery at University Medical Center to remove a medium-caliber bullet lodged in her back from the drive-by shooting at 7:37 p.m. Tuesday. She was listed later in stable but critical condition.

Police were withholding her identity until her parents could be notified.

About 10 other youths were with the victim playing basketball at Rose Warren Elementary School at 6451 Brandywine Way, when the first shot passed through the wire fence and hit the girl about 30 yards away. The school is near Torrey Pines and Alta drives.

As the victim collapsed, the westbound car -- described as a teal Honda -- turned south along the school's perimeter onto Kraemer Drive when a second shot was fired back at the courts but no one was hit, police said.

Witnesses told police that as many as four people were in the car, possibly three white males and one white female.

Owens said his detail commonly responds to drive-by shootings, but that it was too early to confirm that the incident was gang related.

Police spent the night following up on witnesses' leads as well as a possible owner of a Honda matching the description of the one used in the shooting.

The 12-year-old victim was the second young person in less than a week shot at a local basketball court. Owens said there is no apparent connection.

Marco Antonio Valadez, 18, was murdered at Lorenzi Park about 9:45 p.m. Friday while playing basketball with friends. Investigators determined that an argument erupted shortly before the shooting between a group on the court and another group playing soccer nearby.

Joshua Muniz, 18, an alleged gang member, was arrested Saturday and charged with the murder of Valadez, whom police said had no gang ties.

Regarding the safety of parks and playgrounds, Owens said shootings had occurred a number of times at Warren Elementary but that the slaying at Lorenzi Park "was a first."

"There's no neighborhood in town where this type of thing couldn't happen," he said.