Two shot, dozens arrested in San Francisco following Giants win

[October 31, 2014]  By Rory Carroll
 
 SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Two people were shot, one was stabbed and around 40 were arrested as celebrations in San Francisco for the Giants victory in the World Series turned violent overnight, police said on Thursday.

A number of police officers were struck by bottles while responding to the mayhem and three were taken to local hospitals, one with severe lacerations to his hand, Sergeant Monica Macdonald of the San Francisco Police Department said.

Giants fans took to the streets on Wednesday night after the team won its third championship in five years by beating the Kansas City Royals, 3-2, in Game 7 of the World Series, behind the superb relief efforts of pitcher Madison Bumgarner.

Hundreds of people, many clad in the team's orange and black, flooded Valencia Street in the city's Mission District after the final out, perching on bus stops, setting off fireworks and toasting the Giants with beer or champagne.

"Bumgarner blew my mind tonight!" said San Francisco native Beau Adams, who sports a Giants tattoo. "The balance of superstition and belief and pride and confidence makes it all come together."

But as the impromptu street party dragged on late into the night, revelers began setting fires in the streets and vandalizing buildings and police cars with graffiti, Macdonald said. Police turned out in riot gear to break up the more unruly celebrations.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency suspended bus service late Wednesday due to safety concerns.

A passerby was struck in the arm by a bullet fired during an argument between two people, while a second man arrived at San Francisco General hospital with a gunshot wound he said he had sustained in the pandemonium. Another fight ended with one person stabbed, Macdonald said.

She said 29 people were arrested for public intoxication, two on gun charges, four on outstanding warrants and three for aggravated assault. She said police could make further arrests after studying videotapes of the scene and interviewing witnesses.

The destruction prompted concerns ahead of a parade scheduled for Friday in San Francisco to honor the team.

"We just hope that as the parade comes tomorrow and Halloween tomorrow night people maintain their composure out there, celebrate and not cause problems," Macdonald said. "If that's what they want to do we want them to stay home."

(Reporting by Rory Carroll; Additional reporting by Curtis Skinner in San Francisco and Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles; Writing by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Eric Beech)

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