Two teens killed in shooting at birthday party, California cops say. ‘Soul-crushing’

Two teen brothers were shot and killed during a birthday party hosted at an Airbnb in Oakland, California, on Oct. 1, according to police and multiple news outlets.

The teens were identified by family and friends as Jazy Soleto Garcia, 17, and Angel Soleto Garcia, 15, CBS News reported. They were both students at Berkeley High School in California.

Authorities say the shooting happened on Apgar Street.

Police believe there were upwards of 30 people at the residence, which was rented out for a 17-year-old’s birthday party, Oakland Police Chief LeRonne L. Armstrong said during a news conference streamed live on Facebook.

Officials believe that “three individuals came in a vehicle, entered the home, two of which began to fire rounds,” according to Armstrong.

Two other people were also shot at the party, Armstrong said. Police told the San Francisco Chronicle they were in stable condition as of the morning of Oct. 2

Armstrong said the shooting wasn’t gang-related but that police believe it was the “result of a conflict that may have happened at the school previously.”

“It’s soul-crushing. I was speaking to my dad earlier and that was the first time in my 18 years of life I’ve heard him cry,” Melani Garcia, the cousin of the teens who were killed, told KGO.

Garcia told the outlet that the teens were the oldest of six siblings and that they were “role models” to their younger siblings.

Their siblings are ages 13, 9, 6, and 3 according to a GoFundMe created by their aunt for their funeral expenses.

“It is obviously very tragic for the community, tragic for the family, tragic for Berkeley High School and all of the students that were in attendance and those that know these two young people,” Armstrong said, adding that “far too many kids have access to guns and it’s causing tremendous harm.”

School officials said in an email that they are “deeply saddened” by the loss, according to CBS News.

“Our hearts go out to their family and everyone impacted by this tragedy,” the statement said, according to CBS News. “Because these were two of our own, we are all feeling this pain collectively and must hold each other especially close and care for one another.”

Angel was described as a “gentle soul”on the GoFundMe page. Jazy was the “quieter one of the two” who assumed “the role of the protector,” the GoFundMe said.

A witness who lives near where the shooting occurred told KGO she was in her living room when she “heard 10 to 12 rapid-fire shots, then a bunch of kids screaming.” She saw a car drive off quickly and many teens running from the party.

The family does not know if the boys were targeted, The San Francisco Chronicle reported.

“From my perspective, it feels like you see two young brown kids who are victims of gun violence and most people’s minds automatically jump to gang association. That’s not true. My little boys weren’t affiliated with anything. They were just at the wrong place at the wrong time,” the teens’ cousin said, according to KGO.

No arrests have been made, according to police.

Oakland is about 10 miles east of San Francisco

This story was originally published October 3, 2022 at 5:49 PM with the headline "Two teens killed in shooting at birthday party, California cops say. ‘Soul-crushing’."