Police investigating fatal shooting of 79-year-old man near office building

A 79-year-old sitting in his parked car in front of the Bay Ho office building he worked at was fatally shot early Tuesday during a suspected carjacking attempt, San Diego police said.

Police said the man was in a lot on Morena Boulevard south of Costco when someone walked up to his car, knocked on his window and shot him shortly after 5:10 a.m., San Diego police Lt. Jud Campbell said. The suspect then walked away from the scene.

The victim drove about two miles to a McDonald’s on Mission Bay Drive to seek help after the shooting, police said.

The man suffered “throughand-through” gunshot wounds to his upper torso and upper arms, said San Diego police Officer David O’Brien.

TV news footage showed the man’s gray SUV — its driver’s side door open — parked in front of the restaurant.

Officers flagged down by McDonald’s employees rendered emergency aid. Paramedics took the man to a hospital, where he died, Campbell said.

Investigators believe the shooter was attempting to carjack the victim, and when he didn’t immediately surrender his car, the gunman fired, Campbell said.

The victim has been identified, but authorities are withholding his name until family members are notified of the death.

Anyone with information about the shooting was asked to call investigators at (619) 531-2293 or

Crime Stoppers anonymously at (888) 580-8477.

karen.kucher@sduniontribune.com

Deputies arrest arson suspect in string of fires NORTH COUNTY

Sheriff’s deputies responding to a small brush fire Monday morning in Vista arrested a 22-year-old man suspected of sparking that blaze as well as several others late last week in Vista and Oceanside, authorities said.

Monday’s fire was reported around 8:30 a.m. near Melrose Drive close to where Oceanside Boulevard turns into West Bobier Drive, according to Sgt. Anthony Portillo from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department’s bomb/arson unit. The site is near the boundary between Vista and Oceanside.

Vista patrol deputies detained a man near the scene, and detectives from the bomb/arson unit arrested him after an investigation, Portillo said. Detectives believe he sparked Monday morning’s fire and several other small blazes Thursday.

They arrested him on suspicion of six felony counts of arson.

Firefighters quickly extinguished each of the suspicious fires without damage to structures and without injuries, Portillo said.

The first fire on Thursday was reported just before 1 p.m. near La Tortuga Drive and Hacienda Drive, just south of state Route 78 and about 2 miles from where Monday’s fire occurred and deputies arrested the suspect.

Just before 4 p.m. the same day, a second fire was reported at the same location near La Tortuga Drive. During that second call, witnesses reported seeing a man starting several fires in that area, Portillo said. About four hours later, and 2 miles away, Oceanside police responded to a report of a man trying to start a fire.

Jail records showed the man suspected of sparking the fires remained in custody Monday night at the Vista Detention Facility in lieu of $450,000 bail.

alex.riggins@sduniontribune.com

Woman charged in shooting death of another woman

SOUTH COUNTY

A 30-year-old Chula Vista woman has been arrested in the shooting death of a La Mesa woman whose body was found with the hands bound on an out-of-the-way road in Bonita.

Evaline Janet Lemus pleaded not guilty last week to murder in the death of Kimberly Gutierrez, 22. Sheriff’s officials announced Lemus’ arrest Monday.

Gutierrez was found Oct. 20, when a sheriff ’s deputy on patrol spotted her body around 3 a.m. near the cul-de-sac at the end of Quarry Road off Sweetwater Road.

According to Deputy District Attorney Jorge Del Portillo, Gutierrez had been shot four times and was bound with makeshift handcuffs.

Lemus’ attorney could not be immediately reached for comment.

Jail logs indicate Lemus was jailed Nov. 9 on suspicion of a drugrelated crime, about three weeks after Gutierrez was found. Lemus has remained in custody since that time. teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com

Woman pleads not guilty to murder in fatal stabbing CHULA VISTA

A woman accused of fatally stabbing a man last week in National City pleaded not guilty Monday to a murder charge.

Officers responded about 6 a.m. Thursday to the area of East Ninth Street and L Avenue, where they found the victim, identified in the criminal complaint as Calvin Martin, gravely wounded. Paramedics took him to UC San Diego Medical Center, where he died.

Officers arrested 44-year-old Amalia Samaniego near the scene in connection with the stabbing.

Prosecutors allege she stabbed Martin, then later struck him with a broom handle or stick.

A suspected motive for the stabbing has not been disclosed, but during her arraignment in Chula Vista Superior Court Monday afternoon, Samaniego stated that Martin had strangled her and threatened to kill her. Her relationship, if any, with Martin was not released.

Samaniego, who remains held without bail, is charged with murder and a knife allegation. She faces up to 26 years to life in state prison if convicted. City News Service

Sheriff’s Dept. collects 162 guns during trade-in event

ENCINITAS

The Sheriff’s Department collected 162 guns in Encinitas during a trade-in event last weekend designed to get unwanted firearms off the street.

The department was focused on getting guns out of homes, where they are sometimes unsecured and stolen, officials said.

During the daylong event at MiraCosta College’s San Elijo Campus, deputies traded $100 Target gift cards for handguns, rifles and shotguns and $200 Target gift cards for assault rifles. The department asked that the weapons be operable and unloaded.

The event was held in partnership with the county District Attorney’s Office and the cities of Encinitas, Solana Beach and Del Mar.

According to the department, all of the guns collected will be processed to check whether they are linked to any crimes. If deputies discover that any of the weapons were stolen, they will contact the owners, the department said. All other guns will be destroyed. Anyone may turn in unwanted guns at any sheriff ’s station. Anyone who wants to turn in a firearm was asked to call the department’s nonemergency line at (858) 565-5200.