Memorial Gone; Scrawled Messages Remain

Oliver Chin was put into a difficult position when the Westborough Boulevard Arco gas station he has owned since 1988 became the scene of a shooting.

On Tuesday night,, 15, in a corner of the gas station. The officer had tried to stop Gaines, who ran away and pulled a gun from his waistband, according to the South San Francisco Police Department.

By Wednesday morning,  at the shooting site, growing to include stuffed animals, flowers, balloons, candles and cards with messages to Derrick. 

It also included signs with messages like, "Stop Police Violence," who felt that the police were being unfairly blamed for the death.

Several people approached Chin asking him to take the sign down, and one woman tried to do so herself, .

Chin waited until Wednesday night, after a large vigil concluded, to take down all the signs and candles, which he said were a fire hazard.

"I want to be nice to everyone, to be fair," he said, noting that he took down signs that criticized the police as well as one defending them.

"I feel bad for the family, and I feel bad for the police," Chin said.

Chin's business has been down slightly in the past few days; he closed his gas pumps for several hours during the vigil on Wednesday night, and he closed one set of pumps during a smaller demonstration Thursday.

"I don't mind doing it," he said. "I want them to have a peaceful rally."

He also spoke to Gaines' aunt about removing the rest of the memorial.

"She understood that the shrine's not going to be here forever," he said. 

Gaines' family voluntarily removed the flowers, balloons and stuffed animals Thursday night to Gaines' mother's house. His aunt, Dolores Piper, said she may display the items in front of her house.

Now what remains are scrawled messages to Gaines on the gas station railings and ground—"Rest Easy Derrick!" "I love you D, but you always knew that." "Police bring no peace."

Chin plans to paint over the messages in a couple of days.