Gunman carjacks man after fight over weapon behind motel in Chula Vista
CHULA VISTA
A man armed with a pistol carjacked another man Tuesday night in Chula Vista during an encounter that involved an attempted vehicle theft and a fight over the gun, police said.
One shot was fired but no injuries were reported from the gunfire. The victim suffered facial injuries in the fight before his GMC Yukon was stolen, according to Chula Vista police Lt. Jason Deaner.
The incident happened around 10:15 p.m. at the Red Roof Inn motel on Broadway near G Street, Deaner said. That’s where the victim was sitting in his SUV when another man came up and tried to open his door, apparently unaware the vehicle he was trying to steal was occupied.
The victim confronted the would-be robber, who pulled out a semi-automatic pistol, Deaner said.
As the two men struggled over the gun, its magazine and other pieces fell out, leaving just one chambered bullet that was fired.
After the fight, the robber jumped in the victim’s SUV and drove off with the gun.
It was unknown if he was injured.
Police described the SUV as a blue 2002 Yukon with large, black wheels and 23-inch rims. Its license plate number is 8KDD538.
Deaner said police are investigating the matter as a carjacking and assault with a deadly weapon.
Photos show suspect in La Mesa bank robbery
LA MESA
Authorities have released photos of a suspect in a La Mesa bank robbery and asked the public to help identify him.
According to the FBI and La Mesa police, the man walked into the Bank of the West on Center Drive near Grossmont Center Drive and, like other customers, stood in line about 1:10 p.m. on Monday.
When a teller called him, he walked up and gave the teller a demand note, which said the man had a bomb, authorities said.
The teller handed over an undisclosed amount of money, and the man left. Witnesses did not see him carrying a bomb or weapon, authorities said.
The man was described as White, in his late 20s, 5 feet 10 inches tall, with long hair and freckles.
He wore black pants, a black hoodie with the hood pulled over his head, a baseball cap and a white bandana over his face. Surveillance footage shows the man wearing a long-sleeved T-shirt instead of a hoodie near the bank after the robbery, authorities said.
Photos released Wednesday show the suspect on a trolley, wearing the bandana around his neck.
Anyone with information was asked to call the FBI’s San Diego office at (858) 320-1800 or via f bi.gov/tips, or San Diego Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477 or via sdcrimestoppers.org.
S.D. police arrest man after stolen car chased, gun found
SAN DIEGO
San Diego police arrested a 26year-old man late Tuesday after he led them on a chase in a stolen car from University Heights to Lincoln Park.
Police were f lagged down by a person near Ohio Street and Cleveland Avenue around 10:30 p.m. who told them that a man with a gun had tried to shoplift something from a nearby store and pointed out the vehicle to them, said Officer Scott Lockwood.
Officers went to pull over the vehicle and the driver took off.
As police were chasing the vehicle, someone called 911 to report that two men had tried to shoplift from a store on El Cajon Boulevard but were confronted by the store’s owner. One man remained in the store and talked with officers, Lockwood said. The second got into a Lexus and pointed a gun at the man; police later determined that was the car the officers were already pursuing, Lockwood said.
The driver led police close to Lincoln High School. The man got out of the car and jumped a fence at the Sons and Daughters of Guam Club, where he was arrested. Police recovered a loaded handgun, Lockwood said.
Crews douse fire at fast-food restaurant
KEARNY MESA
San Diego Fire-Rescue crews put out a fire in a Kearny Mesa fastfood restaurant midmorning Wednesday, the department said.
The call about the fire at the Wienerschnitzel at Convoy and Armour streets came in about 8:45 a.m.
Crews arrived about five minutes later and encountered fire in the attic, according to the agency.
Everyone cleared out of the building before crews arrived. Firefighters had the fire out just after 9:10 a.m.
Man found dead in field in El Cajon; foul play ruled out
EL CAJON
A person was found dead Tuesday afternoon in a dirt field by a homeless encampment near the Magnolia Avenue off-ramp from Interstate 8 in El Cajon.
California Highway Patrol Sgt. Peter Azcaiturrieta said a call came in at 3:25 p.m. from a witness who observed a motionless body in an open dirt field just south of the Magnolia Avenue near a Motel 6 and a China Buffet close to the off-ramp.
“Another transient in the area was walking along a storm drain and discovered a body face down,” Azcaiturrieta said. “There were no obvious signs of trauma. It doesn’t appear there was any foul play.”
Azcaiturrieta described the victim as a man about 30 to 35 years old. His name and any other information were not released.
The county Medical Examiner’s Office took possession of the body and will determine the cause of death, the CHP said.
Fire damages auto shop in Rolando area of S.D.
SAN DIEGO
A fire in an auto repair shop in the Rolando area of San Diego, just west of La Mesa, caused $15,000 in damage Monday night, according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.
The fire was reported about 11:20 p.m. at the shop on El Cajon Boulevard near 72nd Street.
Crews found smoke billowing from the back of the building. They requested additional firefighters, but the backup crews were called off before they arrived, officials said.
The cause of the fire was under investigation. No one was injured.