Santa Cruz police investigate gang shooting after uptick in graffiti

The Santa Cruz Police Department said its investigating a shooting near Mission Street and Younglove Avenue Tuesday night.

Officers said they responded to multiple reports of shots fired near the Burger King restaurant parking lot. A short time later, officers said they were dispatched to Dominican Hospital for a 16-year-old male victim of a gunshot wound.

Officers said the victim is a known gang member and is currently on probation. They said the victim was uncooperative with investigators and initially mislead them on the location of the shooting, but later admitted his involvement near the Burger King.

Officers said detectives are looking into leads and are looking for video evidence. They said there’s been a significant increase in gang graffiti in the area in the past few weeks.

Investigators are asking anyone with information to call police.