The men responsible for killing a San Diego man are "cowards" according to the victim's mother.
Matt Hargraves, 29, died Sunday in a shooting that occurred within hours of several others in San Diego.
“For what? What’s purpose, what’s the cause?” Darlene Jones-Hargraves wondered.
Three people were killed and five more injured in three separate shootings.
It felt like a “balloon busted and it’s 'Bang bang here, bang bang there, bang bang over there,'” Jones-Hargraves said.
Her son was shot to death in one of two shootings that happened less than two miles apart and within eight hours of each other.
Two men were killed in broad daylight in front of the Mountain View Community Center on South Boundary Street near Ocean View Boulevard at around 1:25 p.m.
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San Diego Police Department (SDPD) Homicide Lt. Anthony Dupree said the suspect walked up to the men, ages 33 and 37, and shot them multiple times and took off.
Officers performed CPR on the men before they were transported to the hospital where they later died, he said.
Dupree said people were playing soccer in the park at the time of the shooting.
At 8:10 p.m. that same night, SDPD responded to Sampson Street and S 28th Street in Logan Heights where Jones-Hargraves’ son was found with a gunshot wound to his upper body.
He was taken to Sharp Mercy Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
“Somebody uncaring, somebody who was a coward, somebody who is doing foolish things took my son's life,” Jones-Hargraves said.
Then just after 11 p.m. Monday, SDPD responded to the intersection of Island Avenue and 15th Street in the East Village where four people were wounded by gunfire.
SDPD Lt. Mike Holden said a fifth person was found wounded in a shooting about two blocks away.
Police believe that two suspects are responsible for both shootings. They were described as young men, about 19 to 25 years old, standing just over 6 feet tall.
At least two of the victims were in serious condition but all were expected to survive their injuries, Holden said.
Two women who were at 17th and Island told NBC 7 they heard several gunshots in the area then saw two men running past them.
Holden said a motive in the attack was not clear but the shooting may be gang-related.
SDPD has not said if all four of the shootings are connected.
Police have not ruled out the possibility that Sunday’s shootings were gang-related, but if it’s determined her son was killed by gang members, Jones-Hargraves has a plan.
“I will call my friends who are prayer warriors and we will anoint every corner and pray,” she said. “That's what we’re going to do. Because if man can’t stop them I know one thing about God I serve -- He can and he will. I trust that."
The surge of violence also drew ire from Mayor Kevin Faulconer and SDPD Chief Nisleit.
Each issued statements Monday saying they have been working with the community and faith-based leaders to get ahead of the violence.
“I have directed Chief Nisleit to use all resources necessary to investigate these crimes and bring the perpetrators to justice,” Mayor Faulconer’s statement read in part.
Nisleit said stopping the violence was his top priority. A joint press conference scheduled Tuesday to introduce a new Neighborhood Quality police division was canceled so that Faulconer and Nisleit could focus on the violence.
