Woman Caught in Middle of Gang Fight Is Killed

A National City woman died Thursday night when she was caught in what police have described as a fight between rival youth gangs in the 900 block of Bucky Lane.

Maria L. Acosta, 42, of the 1300 block of Scott Drive, was waiting in her car for her 15-year-old daughter, Cynthia, at the Bucky Lane address when she was shot in the head about 10:55 p.m.

She was taken to UC San Diego Medical Center where she died at 11:42 p.m., deputy coroner Ken Bell said.

About 20 members of a Southeast San Diego gang crashed the junior high school graduation party Cynthia and about 100 other teen-agers were attending and started a fight with members of a rival gang who were at the party, according to National City Police Sgt. Carey Sullivan.

Pulled in Front of House

Acosta had pulled up in front of the house only minutes before the members of the Southeast gang began firing at a crowd that had gathered in the front yard of the residence, he said.

Petra Croce, an occupant of the house where the shooting took place, was shot in the leg. Larry Santos was also shot during the altercation. They were both taken to area hospitals, where they were treated and released.

Carlos Angeles, who lives two houses down from where the shooting took place, said that in the 18 years he has lived there, nothing like this has ever happened on the street.

Several neighbors agreed that the street, which dead-ends, is usually quiet. Although there have been some gang- and drug-related incidents at nearby Delta Street, until Thursday night, the residents of Bucky Lane had never had any problems.

Sullivan said the suspected gang members fled the scene in various directions, and no arrests have been made in connection with the shooting.