1 Dead, 7 Injured In Shooting At San Diego Swimming Pool

A birthday party at a San Diego apartment complex swimming pool ended in a hail of bullets on Sunday night after a gunman opened fire on the crowd, witnesses said. 

According to police, at least one person was killed and seven others were wounded, “several” of them critically. Details about the victims have not yet been released.

Around 6 p.m., panicked 9-1-1 calls about the attack sent police to the La Jolla Crossroads apartment complex in the University City area.

A police helicopter flew over the complex and spotted the gunman, who appeared to be reloading, San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman said at a press conference. The first three officers to arrive on scene ordered the suspect to drop the weapon. When he allegedly aimed the weapon at them, the police shot and killed him.

The suspect’s identity has not yet been released. Zimmerman described him as a white male, wearing brown shorts and armed with a gun.

At the time of this writing, investigators haven’t determined a motive for the shooting.

About 30 people were at the pool when the shooting occurred. One witness, a resident of the complex, said the gunman was chillingly cool. He spotted the shooter from a window of the complex clubhouse.

“We could see the shooter sitting there with a beer in one hand and the gun in the other,” the witness told Fox 5. “He was pretty relaxed, pretty relaxed.”

The witness went on to describe the scene: “Two people already lying on the ground, one was trying to crawl to the other one to help.”

Shahrayar Jeff told the San Diego Union-Tribune that his 8-year-old granddaughter was at the pool and saw the gunman drinking beer “and shooting.” 

It was “very cold blooded,” Jeff added. 

One unidentified witness told the newspaper that the shooting occurred at his best friend’s birthday party. He said he was returning from the bathroom when the gunfire began. His best friend was among those shot, the witness said.

“Our hearts go out to all the victims, their families and anyone who witnessed this tragic event,” Zimmerman said at the press conference.

Police are asking for public’s help in solving this case. Anyone with information about the shooting are urged to contact authorities.

 

This is a developing story. More to come...

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.