Big Reward Offered in Trolley Shooting Case

Security officer survived shooting at La Mesa's Grossmont station

Investigators are hoping a significant increase in the size of a reward will help break the case in which a gunman repeatedly shot an MTS security officer.

Just after 10 p.m. on Saturday at the Grossmont Center Trolley Station, a gunman approached an MTS security officer, pointed a semi-automatic pistol at him and immediately shot the officer, police said. While the victim was on the ground, the suspect shot him a second time, then demanded the officer's weapon, while pointing the pistol at him from close range. The gunman then took the officer's weapon and ammunition from the officer's gun belt.

On Tuesday, officials announced that they were pumping up the reward from $1,000 to 10 grand for the arrest and conviction of the shooter.

"We don't have a motive -- in this case, the officer did what he was told while he had a gun pointed at him at very close range and he was shot anyway," Lt. David Bond of the La Mesa police said. "That's why we consider the suspect so dangerous."

Investigators said Tuesday that the suspect is a black man in his 20s who is about 5 feet 11 inches tall with a thin build. He was wearing dark clothes and black gloves at the time of the shooting, and had a blue duffle bag strapped across his chest. Police expect to release a composite sketch of the suspect soon.

Police said a similar incident happened last Wednesday at the 62nd Street Trolley Station when a gun and ammunition were stolen from an MTS security officer.

 

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