Reward Offered In Pellet-Gun Assaults On Gay Bars In San Diego

SAN DIEGO, CA — Authorities reached out to the public Tuesday for help in identifying the suspect or suspects who fired a pellet gun at night spots in Hillcrest and North Park last spring, injuring one person in what is being investigated as hate crimes.

The drive-by assaults occurred in the early-morning hours of May 18, mostly targeting gay bars, according to the San Diego Police Department.

The shootings, involving a gel-pellet gun, were carried out by one or more occupants of a black late-model sedan traveling past the following businesses:

-- The Rail at Fifth and Robinson avenues, where one of the projectiles struck a security guard on the arm;
-- Number One Fifth Avenue;
-- Rich's on University Avenue, where three people were struck, including an employee who had to undergo minor surgery for a resulting eye injury; and
-- Pecs Bar, also on University Avenue.

Additionally, a man was targeted by the gel pellets while walking with his wife in Old Town -- an assault that is not believed to have been hate- motivated, police said.

San Diego County Crime Stoppers, in partnership with the San Diego LGBTQ+ Historic Task Force and the Hate Crime Fund, is offering a $2,000 reward to anyone with information that leads to an arrest in the case. Tipsters are asked to contact Crime Stoppers -- anonymously, if preferred -- at 888-580-8477 or sdcrimestoppers.org.

— City News Service