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A Pleasanton teenager and recent high school graduate died on Wednesday after being taken off life support in the hospital where he had been in critical condition since getting shot in Hayward nearly a week earlier, police announced on Thursday.
Hayward detectives continue to investigate leads into the late-night shooting on June 27 that claimed the life of the 18-year-old man and injured his 17-year-old friend from Pleasanton.
“Evidence gathered in the case suggests that this was not a random act of violence,” Hayward police said in an afternoon press release on Independence Day. “Furthermore, detectives are diligently following all investigative leads to identify those responsible, uncover motive, and determine the events that led up to the shooting.”
The Alameda County Coroner’s Bureau declined to release the decedent’s name on Thursday evening, saying there was a press hold. But supporters of his family established a GoFundMe in recent days and have identified him as Denis Bautista, a graduate this year of Amador Valley High School.
“Denis Bautista, a young man of just 18 years old, has left us a great void in the hearts of his family, friends and loved ones,” the GoFundMe organizers wrote. “Sadly, his life was taken from him and thus ended his dreams at such a young age. A month ago he graduated from high school and had many goals and dreams to fulfill. His family is going through great pain and needs help with medical and funeral expenses.”
The “Support Denis Bautista’s Family in Grief” page on GoFundMe has raised more than $25,000 to date.
This marked Hayward’s sixth homicide of 2024.
“Any loss of life is heartbreaking, and the loss of such young members of our community is even more difficult to comprehend,” Hayward Police Chief Bryan Matthews said in Thursday’s press release.
“Our thoughts go out to the family and loved ones of the victims in this incident,” Matthews added. “While no words can heal the pain of losing a loved one, we want to assure the community that we are working tirelessly on this investigation to ensure that those responsible for this tragic event are brought to justice and that closure can be brought to the victim’s families.”
Police said thus far that they have found no connections between Bautista’s death and the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old Rodeo boy in Hayward two nights earlier, but they continue to look into it.
The situation involving the two Pleasanton teens unfolded just after 11 p.m. June 27. Police said they were responding to a report of a shooting in the area of Mission Boulevard and Industrial Parkway in Hayward when emergency dispatch received a call from the 17-year-old boy saying he and his friend had been shot and were fleeing the scene.
Officers located the two victims not far away moments later in the 100 block of West Tennyson Road, police said.
The 17-year-old Pleasanton boy, whose name has not been released, was treated at an area hospital for gunshot injuries and released to family. But the 18-year-old Pleasanton man was more gravely injured and was listed in critical condition for nearly six days until he was taken off life support and pronounced dead at the hospital on Wednesday, police said.
No arrests have been made to date in the homicide, though police said detectives are actively working leads and soliciting information related to the case. They added, “There is no indication that this shooting and the homicide that took place on June 26, 2024 are connected, however that is something being examined, and detectives hope to learn through the investigative process.”
Anyone with information related to Bautista’s death can contact Hayward police Detective Scinto at 510-293-7176; reference Hayward Police Department case No. 2024-35448.
“We want to thank the community for their patience, support and assistance with this investigation,” Matthews said. “Your cooperation and help have been invaluable to our efforts in seeking justice and ensuring the safety of our community. We appreciate your trust and partnership, especially during this challenging time.”
