Oceanside police officers discovered two shooting victims early Thursday after nearby residents called 911 reporting a woman’s screams for help.
Officers found a woman injured inside a truck parked at Calle Mariposa and Calle Solimar near Rancho Road in the Mesa Margarita neighborhood just after midnight. She was shot in the face, chest and arm according to officials.
Robert Robbins, 47, was found dead a short distance away from the truck. Family members shared a photograph of Robbins with NBC 7 San Diego saying he is survived by his mother and two adult children.
The woman found injured by police is Robbins' girlfriend according to relatives.
Investigators say since the woman has been hospitalized, they haven't been able to gather details from her yet. She is expected to survive her injuries.
The victims' neighbor, Diego Martinez, 20, was arrested without incident when Oceanside police arrived in SWAT vehicles.
“I am very saddened because he’s really a hard worker and I’ve never seen him get into any bad activity,” said the suspect’s friend Grace Montano.
“Our focus on Diego was based on what we believed to be pretty credible information from witnesses so as unfortunate as it may sound, that’s what brought us here,” said Oceanside police Lt. Joseph Young.
Martinez was booked into the Vista Detention Facility on charges of first degree murder and attempted murder. He's scheduled to appear in court Tuesday. Police have not yet released any information on a possible motive.
The medical examiner’s office released a preliminary report identifying Robbins (pictured below right) Thursday. The ME said the case is being investigated as a homicide. An examination is scheduled for Friday.
NBC 7 spoke with Lou Lytle Thursday night, owner of Wave Weapons Surfboards, the place where Robbins worked.
Lytle said he had known Robbins for 35 years and hired him about a year ago to work in his shop. He said Robbins loved to surf. The two had made a surfboard for Junior Seau once, finishing the surfboard the day before the San Diego Chargers icon died, Lytle recalled.
“He was going, `Do you think Junior will like what I did?’ And I go, `I’m sure he will,’” said Lytle.
Lytle said Robbins, known to friends as “Robbie,” got into some trouble with the law a few years ago, but was working to turn his life around.
“He got out and he was talking in all the high schools and helping kids. [He was] a real inspiration. Robbie had a lot of charisma,” said Lytle.
He is baffled as to why anybody would want to hurt Robbins.
"It's unbelievable."
Lytle said he saw Robbins for the last time just a couple of days ago. He’s thankful he got a chance to let Robbins know how much he meant to him.
“He came up and gave me a big hug and goes, `I love you, Lou,’ and I go, `I love you too, Robbie.’”
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