The Oceano boy who died today from wounds suffered in a drive-by shooting was popular with students and staff at Lopez High School, the school principal said.
Gabriel Salgado, 17, who was shot at least once in the head about 6:40 p.m. Thursday, died at Marian Medical Center.
“He was well-liked by the students and the community and the staff, and he was a very good member of our Lopez community,” Principal Christine Granados said of Salgado.
“Our hearts go out to the family,” she said, offering the condolences of Lopez students and staff.
Granados said Salgado took a wide variety of classes at Lopez, and was on track to graduate at the end of this year.
“Gabe was a great student,” she said. “He was an all-around great guy ... and was truly well-loved by the community and staff.”
A 14-year-old boy who was wounded in the leg in the shooting underwent surgery this morning at Arroyo Grande Community Hospital.
Counselors were available today for students at Lopez and Arroyo Grande High School, where the 14-year-old attends classes.
Granados said “quite a few students were meeting with counselors today” at Lopez, which has about 150 students.
“As you know, Lopez is a small community,” she said. “These events had a great impact today.”
Investigators have no suspects and no motive in the Thursday night shooting, San Luis Obispo County Undersheriff Martin Basti said.
He said the suspects may be linked to gang activity, but investigators have no confirmation of any gang affiliation for the victims.
“Our focus is on the suspects at this time,” Basti said.
The pair were shot while standing on the sidewalk in front of a home in the 1700 block of 21st Street in Oceano.
Basti said information about the suspects is “very sketchy,” adding that possible witnesses interviewed Thursday night gave different descriptions of the vehicle and only brief descriptions of an individual seen in the car.
“This is a community issue, and we would like some help from the community,” Basti said, asking that anyone with information call the Sheriff’s Department at 781-4550 or CrimeStoppers at 549-STOP.
