Christopher Borgzinner, Actor Playing Thug in Upcoming Movie, Beaten on San Francisco Bus by Four Gang Members for Wearing Red Shoes

Christopher Borgzinner, an actor in "La Mission," an upcoming movie set in San Francisco's Mission District, was never in a gang when he grew up in the city's Portola neighborhood, but trouble found him on a local bus. What's ironic is that Borgzinner plays a street thug in the movie, who clashes with the main character, an ex-convict (played by Benjamin Bratt) who later becomes a bus officer, was accosted and beaten as he rode a 9-San Bruno Muni bus to his acting class in Mission. He was wearing the wrong color shoes. Apparently, it was the wrong color because they were red -- the color claimed by the Norteño gang. Though Borgzinner vehemently denied being in a gang, these thugs didn't care. They stole his wallet, among other items, and beat him. This is just another senseless act by a bunch of thugs roaming freely in many communities across this country. This young man was trying to make something positive of his life.

Christopher Borgzinner, budding actor, beaten by gang members on bus (Paul Chin/The Chronicle)

Police said Borgzinner suffered orbital bone fractures under both eyes and other injuries when four men beat him. He is a graduate of the June Jordan School for Equity public high school, said he had been studying a monologue for the acting class he attends at night.

Borgzinner started his acting career last year after he wrote and performed a monologue in a high school theater class. In it, his fictional character seeks comfort in prayer after standing by as his brother is shot and killed.

As Borgzinner studied his monologue in the back of the 9-San Bruno for acting class, a man started talking to him, asking if he was a 24th Street gang member. Borgzinner told police he thought the problem might have been that he was wearing red tennis shoes, suggesting he was a Norteño.

Borgzinner said he wasn't a gang banger, and the man seemed satisfied. The two even talked about what high schools they attended. Then the man asked to borrow Borgzinner's cell phone, saying his own was dead. Borgzinner overheard him ask, "OK, red light or green light?"

Green light is gang slang for approving an attack on a rival."Why did you lie to me?" the man then asked. "You are from 24th!" Four men proceeded to beat him and steal his iPod Nano and wallet, he told police. Borgzinner was treated for his broken bones and other injuries at San Francisco General Hospital and released. Source: San Francisco Chronicle

The police said the gang task force is waiting to see whether Muni can supply video from the cameras on the bus. What is equally unconscionable is that there has been controversy surrounding the Muni buses and surveillance cameras. Muni has not always been able to produce videos from their cameras to law enforcement. For example, Hatim Mansori, 11, was stabbed by a stranger on the 49-Mission bus on September 1, but neither camera on board had taped the attack, though one of the devices captured the audio of the attack. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Muni later conceded that a "significant number" of cameras aboard the buses didn't work, but said that repairs were under way. It would be an absolute shame if these camera were not working and didn't capture what happened to this young man.