San Francisco police lack evidence to charge 18-year-old in fatal shooting of German tourist

No charges in San Francisco German tourist death

SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco prosecutors said Tuesday they lack enough evidence to charge a man who was arrested following the weekend fatal shooting of a German tourist caught in the crossfire between two groups of teenagers.

Assistant District Attorney Seth Steward said the 18-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder will not be charged in Sunday night’s slaying of 50-year-old Mechthild Schroer of Minden, Germany.

But the case remains under “active investigation,” Steward said. “We’re still collecting evidence.”

Schroer, who was in the United States celebrating her birthday and wedding anniversary, was looking for a place to eat with her husband, Stefan, in the popular Union Square area when she was shot.

The couple was about a block from their hotel. They planned to leave San Francisco on Tuesday.

Police said Schroer was an innocent bystander when the two groups got into an altercation outside a private end-of-summer teen dance party at a comedy club. Two others also shot suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were treated at a hospital and released.

Assistant Police Chief Jeff Godown said Tuesday the 18-year-old suspect likely will be released from custody.

Four others taken into custody have also been released.

“The investigation is not over. We’re still looking for witnesses and pursuing leads,” Godown said. “We’re still trying to figure out who did it.”