By Gina Yarbrough
Oceanside, CA–A 14-year-old male was arrested Sunday in connection with the fatal shooting of a 29-year-old male at a shopping center parking lot Saturday afternoon in Oceanside, authorities said.
Police located the suspected shooter at a residence near the area. Oceanside SWAT, Crisis Negotiation Team, and the Unmanned Aerial Support Team responded to aid in the safe apprehension of the suspect, the Oceanside Police Department said in a news release.
The teen, a resident of Oceanside, exited the residence and was detained and later booked into East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility for murder.
On Saturday, Oceanside police responded to multiple calls of a shooting around 4:36 p.m. that occurred in the parking lot of a shopping center located at the 600 block of North Redondo Road.
Officers arrived on the scene and immediately began rendering aid to the victim, who was found to have suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Despite the efforts of police and medical personnel, the victim died from his injuries at the scene. He was a resident of Oceanside and has been identified, and his information is currently withheld pending family notifications, Oceanside police said.
Police set up a containment and quickly canvassed the area searching for the suspects, who were described as three juveniles. San Diego Sheriff’s Department air support (ASTREA) aided in the search of the area.
According to police, preliminary information indicates that the victim was involved in an altercation with the three suspects in the parking lot when one suspect produced a firearm and shot the victim. The suspect chased the victim and fired again, striking the victim in the upper torso area. All three suspects then fled north from the parking lot.
Police are searching for the other two individuals involved in the shooting.
Suspect two was described as a Hispanic male 15-years-old with a dark brown ponytail wearing a white t-shirt under a black shirt and long dark pants.
Suspect three was described as a Hispanic male 15-years-old wearing a black baseball cap with white on the front, a black hooded shirt with sleeves rolled up, and a red backpack.
According to police, the relationship between the victim and suspects, and the motive and circumstances that led up to the shooting are under investigation.
The search for the other two suspects involved is active and ongoing.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact Detective Theriot at (760) 435-4378 or email mtheriot@oceansideca.org. You can also report anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
