Man Killed Over pizza

Randy Orton · 04-03-2008, 11:39 PM

Quote:

18:39 PDT San Francisco -- A man who was shot and killed this weekend in San Francisco's Sunset District had been buying pizza for the workers he supervised at a Verizon Wireless store to show his appreciation for a successful sales month, his family said.

Jason De La Cruz, 31, of Daly City and his friend, Derek Butch, 23, of San Francisco were killed in a double shooting early Saturday morning outside a pizza joint on Irving Street near 19th Avenue in an attack his family described as senseless.

"My big brother was such a caring and generous person," said De La Cruz's sister, Janelle, sitting in the family's Daly City home Sunday. "I can't believe he lost his life over something as stupid and meaningless as pizza."

According to De La Cruz's family, Jason De La Cruz, a manager with the Westlake Verizon Wireless store in Daly City, wanted to celebrate a great sales month in March by treating his sales team to drinks and pizza.

About a half dozen members of "Team J.D." spent much of late Friday night celebrating with pints of beer at the Underdog Sports Bar and Grill on Irving Street, De La Cruz's relatives said.

Just after 2 a.m. Saturday, the group left the bar and went searching for a bite across the street at Irving Pizza, which - being one of the few restaurants in the area open at that hour - was crowded, according to relatives and police.

While in the restaurant, De La Cruz said, "Free pizza on me for Team J.D," to which an unknown customer demanded that he also receive free food, a witness told The Chronicle.

A confrontation continued outside the restaurant as both De La Cruz and the unknown customer, who appeared to be in his late teens, took off their jackets as if to fight, the family was told. The tension appeared to be defused when an acquaintance of the unknown customer shook the hand of one of the Verizon employees and told them to ignore his drunk friend, according to witnesses.

Moments later, a man believed to be another acquaintance of the unknown customer, got out of a parked car and shot De La Cruz and Butch, police said. Both men died on the sidewalk near Kevin's Noodle House, about two stores down from Irving Pizza, police said.

"The place was packed, which is normal for a Friday night. There must have been about 50 customers inside and another 20 or 30 outside," said an Irving Pizza employee who was working at the time of the shooting, but did not want to give his name. "I heard about five shots. We all stayed inside at first. Everybody was too scared to see what happened outside."

The shooter was described by police as an Asian male in his 20s of thin build, with short dark hair that is spiky in front and wearing an orange San Francisco Giants jacket and blue jeans. He fled south on 19th Avenue, according to police. The suspect's vehicle was described as a mid-90s, dark blue, two-door car that resembled an Acura Integra or a Honda Civic, police said.

Butch was outgoing and "the life of the party," said a close friend who witnessed the shootings. The friend provided details of the shootings to The Chronicle, but did not want to give his name for fear of retribution.

Butch grew up in the Richmond District and was living with his long-time girlfriend in an apartment in Alamo Square and had most recently been working as a deliveryman for Safeway.com. Butch, who had recently passed the written and oral exams for a job with the Oakland Fire Department, was also considering working for Verizon and joining De La Cruz's sales team.

The regular staff at the Verizon retail store in Daly City where the two victims worked was given the day off on Sunday, a representative from the store said.

At the De La Cruz home in Daly City on Sunday morning, the victim's family remained in shock.

"Jason was a big teddy bear with a big heart," said his sister, Janelle, as dozens of friends of family came by to pay respects. "He was the kind of man who would defend his honor if he felt he had to - but never with weapons."

De La Cruz played linebacker for Westmoor High School, where he graduated in 1995, and later played football at San Mateo City College. He leaves behind a wife, Mary, and three children.

It was the second double-shooting early Saturday morning. The first double shooting occurred in the Excelsior district where two men were fatally shot in the head while sitting in a parked car. One victim was identified as Ernad Joldic, 21, of Daly City. The second victim's name has not been released.

damn that sucks for that guy. what a joke getting killed cuz he wouldnt buy someone their food

Hipster William · 04-04-2008, 04:31 PM

What has this world came too? It seems as if these injuries or murders are happening every day over non essential things.

Inogenius · 04-04-2008, 07:46 PM

What a dirt bag. I hope someone massacres the other guy.

Ruse the Moose · 04-04-2008, 07:48 PM

It's a dog eat dog world, people kill one another over whatever they want - even if it is pizza. You think humanity is bad? Wait until you live in the wild like I have, you get bears, wolves and coyotes trying to kill you in their sleep. When they're hungry, they'll eat. Humans are no different. It's all just a part of nature.

Dakstang · 04-04-2008, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruse the Moose

It's a dog eat dog world, people kill one another over whatever they want - even if it is pizza. You think humanity is bad? Wait until you live in the wild like I have, you get bears, wolves and coyotes trying to kill you in their sleep. When they're hungry, they'll eat. Humans are no different. It's all just a part of nature.

Where have you been for so long Mr. Moose?

I was afraid a hunter may have got you.

Good to see you back.

Ruse the Moose · 04-04-2008, 07:54 PM

We got more snow up here in Canada, so I decided to go back into hibernation. The weather is warmer now, so I'm deciding to wake up from my nap. Hunters don't come out until the fall, so fear for me then.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Vicky and pizza	The ROC	Pro Wrestling Hotties	0	05-05-2006 06:19 PM
The Pizza	JsnakeJ	The Dungeon	1	11-04-2005 05:28 PM
Favourite Pizza Topping?	Matt S.	General Discussion	8	05-10-2004 02:13 AM

Man Killed Over pizza

Kick back and talk about just about anything non wrestling related. You know the drill.