Greg Harman
A college intern is in stable condition after being shot in a drive-by shooting at the Southwest Workers' Union intern house in East San Antonio early Sunday morning. Several interns and staff, eight in all, were gathered at the Solidarity House on Idaho Street when a spray of bullets hit the front of the building at 2:30 a.m. Sunday.
At least 25 bullets hit the front of the house, several of which passed through both the front and back walls, said SWU Director Genardo Rendon. Intern James Domingue, 23, of Southern Louisiana, was hit in the hip and suffered shattered pelvic bones, Rendon said. “It's incredible, when you look at all the holes in the house” that more people weren't injured, he said.
Police are blaming the incident on a gang-related drive-by, suggesting the assailants hit the wrong Idaho Street house. According to a preliminary SAPD incident report, the assailants called out “gi gi” while they fired on the house.
Domingue came to San Antonio to work in the Roots of Change Community Garden behind the SWU office on East Commerce Street. A fund has been established to help offset medical and travel expenses.
Donations or cards can be sent to:
Peace & Solidarity Fund
Southwest Workers Union
PO Box 830706
San Antonio, TX 78283
Donations also can be made online.
Rendon said the union is calling on the community to support the Domingue family, press for a full investigation of the shooting, and recommit itself to working for peace and justice across the city.
A vigil for peace will be held at 4 p.m. today at 1416 East Commerce.
From the SWU press release:
We need safe streets and safe peaceful spaces for people and organizations working towards social justice and cannot allow such ruthless acts to go unnoticed. We will continue to raise our voices against all manifestations of hatred and for real justice in our communities.
Join us in solidarity and prayers for the shooting victims and to demonstration support for peaceful communities across San Antonio and the world.
Over the past year, the 22-year-old SWU has fought against the citing of a diesel-fuel storage facility on the East Side, organized against SB1070 and for immigration reform, and worked to stop San Antonio from participating in the construction of new nuclear power plants outside Bay City. Other campaigns have included closing the family-detention ICE facility in Hutto and for better educational opportunities for low-income students in San Antonio.
