Man Dies at Fourth of July House Party
By H. HUGHES
Updated 8:11 AM PST, Tue, Jul 7, 2009
An Escondido man shot at a Fourth of July party had just arrived. The next thing his friend remembers is an argument and then loud noises that sounded like fireworks.
Daniel Eugene Alexander, 26, was shot in the head at a home in the 500 block of Vine Street in Escondido. The shooting happened around 11:30 p.m. Saturday, according to Escondido Police.
Alexander's shooters identified themselves as gang members and refused to let him pass, the victim's roommate and friend told the North County Times. The friend, who would only identify himself as Daniel because he feared retaliation, said Alexander was only trying to get to the house next door when he was stopped by men claiming to be security for the party.
"One of them said, 'I got something for you,'" Dennis said about the men who stopped them. Some of the men went into the house and quickly returned, and Dennis said he then heard loud bangs and saw flashes coming at him. Admitting to drinking that day, Dennis told the paper he originally thought the bangs were fireworks and that he doesn't remember much of what happened next.
When an Escondido police officer arrived he heard gunshots, according to Lt. Bob Benton. The officer found Alexander on the driveway, shot in the head.
On Monday, friends gathered at Montiel Park in San Marcos to remember Alexander. He played disc golf there. Allen Risley, a community services commissioner with the city of San Marcos, was part of a group of about 60 people who met regularly to play disc golf. Alexander was a member of that group. "He was a guy who would walk up to you with his hand out and a smile on his face," Risley said.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Escondido Detective Don Tulimero at 760-839-4776.
First Published: Jul 6, 2009 10:03 AM PST
You Might Like
You have 2000 characters left
