Gerson Romero was 19 when he was killed in a gang-related shooting on August 11, 2018, in San Francisco’s Excelsior neighborhood. Romero and several friends were targeted by members of the 19th Street/16th Street Sureños, who were reportedly seeking retaliation for an earlier drive-by shooting. After spotting Romero and the others, Jose Aguilar and Jonathan Escobar opened fire; Romero was shot and the attackers continued shooting after he fell. Three other people were wounded in the attack.

Both Aguilar and Escobar were arrested and later indicted by a federal grand jury. Aguilar, known as Slim, pleaded guilty and acknowledged gang membership; he was sentenced to 22 years. Escobar also pleaded guilty and received a 26-year sentence. Both men admitted the killing of Romero was retaliatory and linked to the gang rivalry between Sureños and Norteños in the Mission area.

If anyone knew Romero, his habits, or has information about that night in the Excelsior, please share what you know.