Gunfire erupted after a street fight near 16th Street and Valencia early Sunday, police said.
SAN FRANCISCO — One man was killed and another wounded after a fight on the street led to gunfire in the Mission District just after midnight Sunday, Nov. 16. Officers recovered a firearm at the scene and later arrested a 23-year-old San Francisco man on suspicion of murder.
The shooting unfolded as weekend crowds moved through the busy corridor around 16th Street and Valencia Street, a nightlife hub flanked by bars, restaurants and apartment buildings. Police said officers responded at about 12:25 a.m. to reports of multiple people down. Two victims were found with gunshot wounds and taken to a hospital, where one was pronounced dead. The other victim remained hospitalized Sunday. Authorities said investigators seized a gun and began canvassing the block, which is ringed with security cameras and transit stops, for witnesses and video. The arrest, made later Sunday morning, marked a rapid turn in a case that rattled neighbors and business owners.
According to police, the confrontation began as a fight among several men on the 3000 block of 16th Street. During the scuffle, one man drew a handgun and fired multiple rounds. A neighbor, Joshua MacDonald, said he heard “five or six gunshots” echo through his apartment lobby and watched first responders flood the area. “It was loud, and then it was just sirens,” MacDonald said. Business owner Aijaz Ghani, who has operated a restaurant on 16th Street for years, described the effect on his customers: “This murder is shaking up 16th Street. People are scared.” Officers taped off the intersection and evidence technicians marked shell casings on the pavement while paramedics worked on the victims.
Police later located a possible suspect in the Visitacion Valley neighborhood across town and took him into custody. Authorities identified him as Larry Hudgson Jr., 23, of San Francisco, and said he was booked into county jail on suspicion of murder in connection with the shooting. Investigators said surveillance systems in the immediate area, including cameras from nearby businesses and at least one passing autonomous vehicle, likely captured portions of the encounter. The department did not release the victims’ names pending notification of relatives, and it did not disclose a suspected motive beyond the initial street fight. Detectives continued interviews into Sunday afternoon and asked additional witnesses to come forward.
The violence came in a part of the Mission long known for late-evening foot traffic around 16th Street BART and nearby nightlife spots. In recent years, the corridor has seen periodic spikes in assaults and gunfire as crowds pack bars and restaurants on weekends. Residents said Sunday’s shooting was the latest in a series of incidents they perceived in the last few months, though official year-to-date figures for homicides citywide have fluctuated by neighborhood and month. The intersection of 16th and Valencia sits a few blocks west of the Mission Street commercial spine and draws patrons from across the city for music venues and food late into the night.
Investigative steps now include reviewing video, processing the recovered firearm, analyzing ballistics and seeking additional accounts from people who were in the area just before 12:30 a.m. Police said the case will be presented to the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office for charging decisions after detectives compile reports. As of Sunday evening, no court date had been set. Authorities said they would release more information on the victims’ conditions when available and expected to issue a formal incident summary after next of kin are notified. Any updates on charging or arraignment would likely follow in the coming days once prosecutors review the arrest and evidence.
On Sunday, the block reopened to traffic as workers swept up refuse and businesses unlocked their doors. A few patrons paused near the curb where evidence markers had stood hours earlier. “We need more police presence on the 16th and Mission area and the Valencia area, because there are a lot of bars and a lot of young people coming here,” Ghani said. Another resident, who declined to give a name, said the sight of patrol cars lingered in the morning. “It’s a busy area on weekends. People just want to feel safe,” the resident said.
By late Sunday, police said the investigation remained active and that further details would be released as they are confirmed. The next expected milestone is the charging decision by the district attorney’s office, which could come early this week once investigators finish initial reports.
Author note: Last updated November 16, 2025.