San Diego

1 Dead, 1 Wounded After Shooting in Horton Plaza in Downtown San Diego

A confrontation on the seventh floor of Horton Plaza, a popular mall in Downtown San Diego, turned deadly late Saturday night

One person was killed and a second injured in a midnight shooting at San Diego's popular shopping complex, Horton Plaza, downtown, San Diego police (SDPD) said. 

The shooting happened at approximately 11:46 p.m. Saturday on the seventh floor of Horton Plaza just outside the Mad House Comedy Club, San Diego police said. 

"They were causing problems the whole night, yelling and we were trying to get them out of there," one witness, who did not want to be identified, told NBC 7. He said he was at the comedy club when the shooting happened.

He said the victims were shot by people they knew. "One of them was a regular that has been here a lot."

Witnesses said the group came for the 9:45 p.m. show and were highly intoxicated. They were kicked out of the club, and, moments before the headliner was supposed to go on, shots rang out.

"Shots rang out and everybody started running into the club and started barricading the tables," he said.

When officers arrived, they found two men with gunshot wounds. 

The preliminary investigation has revealed that the victims were confronted by two men for unknown reasons just before the shooting, Holden said. During the confrontation, a suspect opened fire and shot both victims. 

The first victim - a 43-year-old San Diego resident - was shot in his chest and taken to UC San Diego Medical Center. Despite life-saving measures, the man was pronounced dead at the hospital. 

The second victim, a 29-year-old Riverside resident, was shot in the leg. He is expected to survive. 

Both victims have been identified. The 43-year-old's identity is being withheld as police notify his family, Holden said. He was confirmed to have been on active duty in the Navy. 

The suspects ran north through Horton Plaza after the shooting. 

No arrests have been made. Police are searching for the two suspects, but there is no description of the suspects at this time. 

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

Contact Us