Police Search for Gunman Who Allegedly Opened Fire on Calif. Freeways, Injuring 1
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October 3: Law enforcement personal look for evidence on 5 north the 805 and south of Del Mar Heights Road in a string of shootings on Interstates 805 and 5 in Del Mar, California. (AP/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Motorists are being urged to avoid driving on two San Diego freeways after a gunman fired on at least two vehicles Monday, injuring one man before fleeing the scene, Fox5SanDiego.com reports.
A 26-year-old man was hit about 10:45 a.m. Monday on I-805 and was being treated at a hospital, San Diego Police Lt. Darryl Hoover told reporters. About 15 minutes later, shots were fired again along I-805 where a California Highway Patrol officer was assisting a motorist, and on northbound Interstate 5, where a bullet hit an ambulance on the fender. No one was injured in either of those incidents.
The assailant was driving a Chevrolet Malibu and was driving north on Interstate 5, connecting San Diego and Los Angeles, California Highway Patrol officer Larry Landeros said.
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Late Monday, CHP identified the registered owner of the sedan as Enrique Ayon, 24, and were looking for him as a person of interest. Ayon is considered armed and dangerous, authorities said.
Authorities shut down a 3-mile section of I-805 for hours to comb the area for the suspect, casings and other evidence. It later reopened but officials then shut down a section of I-5 to search that area.
It was the second time this year a gunman has been reported shooting at cars traveling on a freeway in San Diego County. In April, a 21-year-old University of San Diego student was injured in the rib cage after a gunman fired at cars driving on another San Diego freeway.
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Police arrested 58-year-old Stephen Dragasits, after examining DNA on bullet casings along the freeway. He has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and firearms charges. Police have not determined a motive.
Police said he is linked to shootings that struck two cars. No one else was injured.
Dragasits, of New York, was a former San Diego County worker and a Navy veteran, prosecutors said.
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