OCEANSIDE — Police, support groups and residents have joined together to stand against violent crimes following a shooting that occurred at 8:50 p.m. on March 13 at Libby Lake Park in which two juveniles were killed and two were injured.
Oceanside police held a press conference at the park on the evening of March 20 to pass out flyers and request that residents come forward with any information on the crime.
Flyers include the photos of Melanie Virgen, 13, and Edgar Sanchez, 15, who were fatally shot, and the description of a gray or silver, 2005 or 2006, Toyota Tacoma or Toyota Tundra extended cab pickup truck seen at the crime scene.
The suspects were described as Hispanic males wearing dark clothes.
Police also went door to door to distribute the flyers and ask for community assistance in solving the crime. The efforts were made one week from the date of the crime to contact residents who might be potential witnesses.
As of March 22, one of the injured victims was released from the hospital and one still remains in care.
Flowers and “no more violence” signs line the park entrance.
Libby Lake Park is the same location where Fernando Solano, 16, and Sandra Salgado, 14, were fatally gunned down in May 2011. In that case four arrests were made. The crime was considered gang related, although the victims were not gang members.
It is not yet determined if the March 13 shooting was gang related.
In efforts to support the community, city staff will give an update on its Community Partnership Steering Committee that provides youth support services including gang prevention, intervention and reduction programs at the March 27 City Council meeting.
Oceanside resident Salvador Leal Estrella will also share solutions to gang violence at the meeting.
Anyone with information on the crime should call Detective LaVake at (760) 435-4872, or the anonymous TIP line at (760) 435-4730.
