San Leandro police confirm two homicides, days apart, in fitness center parking lot

One happened Sept. 14 and the other Sept. 24 in the lot at 24-Hour Fitness, police said Friday

San Leandro police said on Friday that two men were fatally shot in the same fitness center parking lot about ten days apart.

The men’s names, ages, and places of residence were not released.

According to an online alert issued by police on Friday, both shootings took place in the parking lot of the 24-Hour Fitness at Bayfair Center, a large shopping complex.

When asked by a Bay Area News Group reporter why it took more than two weeks in the first case and five days in the second to reveal the homicides, a police spokesperson said that “there was enough information to cast some doubt on the certainty” that the first death was a homicide. Following the second death, “the decision was made that information should be released,” according to the spokesperson.

“The timing and content were determined after discussions between investigators and command staff to properly balance public safety/interest and investigational needs,” said Lt. Enguang Teng in a statement.

The first homicide occurred around 11:50 a.m. on Sept. 14.

According to the alert, officers responded to check on the welfare of an unconscious male and discovered him inside a vehicle with what appeared to be a single gunshot wound.

The second homicide was reported around 10:40 a.m. on September 24th. According to the alert, responding officers discovered a deceased man inside a vehicle with what appeared to be gunshot wounds.

The motive for the killings was not specified by police. Authorities stated that they were investigating the possibility that they were random acts or were possibly connected.

Anyone with information about the murders is asked to call Detective C. Pricco at 510-577-3244, the anonymous tip line at 510-577-3278, or text-to-tip at 888777 (keyword: TipSLPolice).