20-year-old Lawrence Collins, a star graduate of the Inner City Youth program, was shot in the head Friday night outside the Minnie and Lovie Ward Recreation Center on Capitol Avenue in Oceanview. It was San Francisco's sixth homicide this year.

Collins was found dead around 7 p.m. on Friday. He was taken to a nearby hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Although San Francisco Police are keeping a lid on the investigation at the moment, was remembered yesterday by the community leaders who had high hopes for the young man.

“He was really the star of our youth center,” a senior case manger for Inner City Youth told the Examiner. “He could have been mayor, and I’m not exaggerating.”

Collins was also well known among his peers at Inner City Youth. He was chosen to speak at the program's graduation last year and would often speak to younger kids about the importance of staying in school and "doing the right thing." Collins often frequented midnight basketball games at the center and worked in the Department of Public Works' summer internship program, but he may have had a few run-ins with the law in the past. He was reportedly released from jail just two weeks before Friday's killing. His parents both passed away in the last 18 months.

[SFEx]
[BCN/Appeal]