Man Accused of Shooting Sister, Holding Family Hostage Pleads Not Guilty

A South San Francisco man accused of shooting his sister and holding family members hostage last year has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and two dozen other charges connected with the incident.

Alvin Luis, 56, was allegedly engaged in an ongoing dispute with two of his sisters over the settlement of his deceased mother's estate, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office.

On Nov. 20, Luis burst in on a family gathering at a home in South San Francisco, prosecutors said.

He allegedly pulled out two firearms -- a handgun and a pellet gun -- and threatened to kill the seven people in the home, prosecutors said.

After hitting one sister in the head with the butt of the handgun and kicking his other sister in the stomach, Luis held the family at gunpoint and ordered everyone into a back bedroom, according to the district attorney's office.

The family was held there for about 30 minutes before one sister attempted to distract Luis while the other family members escaped through a window, prosecutors said.

Luis discovered the escape and shot his sister in the hand, breaking bones in her hand and wrist, prosecutors said.

No one else was injured.

Luis fled the scene and was later arrested at a Carl's Jr. restaurant in San Francisco, prosecutors said.

Investigators reported finding a bag of ammunition and duct tape that Luis allegedly brought to his relatives' home, demonstrating premeditation, prosecutors said.

Luis was subsequently charged with attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, seven counts of making criminal threats, seven counts of assault with a firearm, seven counts of false imprisonment and residential burglary.

Luis, who remains in custody without bail, is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 28.

-Bay City News