San Diego

SDPD IDs Gunman in University City Apartment Shooting

The gunman involved in a shooting in University City called his ex-girlfriend after the shooting began and wanted her to hear the rampage, San Diego's police chief said Monday. 

Peter Selis, 49, was described by witnesses as calm. One person even said Selis had a smirk on his face during the shooting. Another said he held a beer in one hand and his gun in another.

One woman has died and seven other people were hospitalized with gunshot wounds or broken bones following Sunday's mass shooting at the La Jolla Crossroads apartment complex.

The shooting occurred inside the pool area where people were attending a birthday party.

San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman said Selis was despondent over a recent breakup with a girlfriend.

Moments before officers arrived, Selis, "took out a cell phone and he called his ex-girlfriend,” Zimmerman said. β€œSelis told his ex-girlfriend that he had just shot two people and that police had arrived on the scene.”

Zimmerman said Selis stayed on the phone with his ex-girlfriend as the shooting continued.

β€œIt was apparent that Selis wanted his ex-girlfriend to listen in as he carried out his rampage,” she said.

The victims just happened to be present, she added.

β€œThere is zero information to indicate that race played a factor in this terrible and horrific crime,” she said. β€œThe victims were targeted for no other reason but their mere presence in the vicinity of the suspect.”

Zimmerman said Selis pointed his weapon at her officers then three officers fired, shooting and killing the suspect.

Seven others were injured in the shooting at the La Jolla Crossroads complex. NBC 7's Artie Ojeda reports.

One witness said the tenant who was celebrating his birthday walked up to Selis and invited him to join the celebration. The witness said Selis then lifted up his shirt, took out a gun and shot the tenant in the stomach.

Another witness described the suspect as calm with a smirk on his face during the shooting.

Selis continued shooting people until he was out of bullets, according to the witness.

A woman who was in the pool area at the time of the shooting said she was able to get away from the shooter while he was reloading his gun.

The semi-automatic gun, a Sig Sauer .45, was bought almost three years ago, exactly, Zimmerman said.

Seven adults were taken to area hospitals with gunshot wounds. One woman died of her injuries and several others remain in critical condition, according to Zimmerman, who did not identify the victims.

One man broke his arm while fleeing and went to a hospital as well.

Selis lived at the complex located on Judicial Drive, north of Nobel Drive and south of Miramar Road and west of Interstate 805.

Selis is the brother of the San Diego-based country singer Eve Selis, who has won multiple San Diego Music Awards over the years and was nominated this year for Best Country or Americana Album, for β€œSee Me With Your Heart.” According to her website, she has shared bills with a variety of big names, including Heart, the Doobie Brothers, Kenny Loggins and many others.

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