By Gina Yarbrough
Ramona, CA–The Sheriff’s Department released the identity of the suspect in connection with the fatal shooting of a Ramona resident on August 4.
On Monday, Sheriff’s detectives identified 29-year-old Eduardo Contreras as the suspect in the murder of 59-year-old Jose Pilar Rojas. Contreras was initially arrested on August 5 near his apartment in the 1700 block of La Brea Street for drug possession charges.
While Contreras remained in custody at the San Diego Central Jail, Sheriff’s homicide detectives filed additional charges of murder, possession of controlled substances while armed with a firearm, felon in possession of a firearm, a prohibited person possessing a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm with the intent to commit a felony, and possession of a silencer.
Contreras is an acquaintance of Rojas and his family. The circumstances and motivations are still under investigation.
On August 4, at about 7 p.m., Sheriff’s deputies responded to a home in the 1800 block of La Brea Street in Ramona for a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, deputies found Rojas on the ground with a gunshot wound near the sideyard of the home. Deputies performed life-saving measures on him until paramedics and fire department personnel arrived. Rojas was transported to a local area hospital for treatment. On August 6, he died at the hospital.
On August 7, the Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy on the victim and determined the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head, according to their report.
