A several-hour standoff between police and a shooting suspect in North Park ended around 6 p.m. Sunday, but officers were unable to locate the 40-something-year-old man.
A San Diego Police Department (SDPD) SWAT team surrounded an apartment complex in North Park where the suspect was holed up. For more than five hours, officers were attempting to make contact with him.
He is accused of shooting and killing a 27-year-old man behind a 24 Hour Fitness in the Midway District earlier Sunday.
The shooting occurred in the 3600 block of Midway Drive, near the busy intersection of Sports Arena and West Point Loma boulevards, just before 10:50 a.m.
Witness Monica Stepanof was at the gym when the victim was shot.
“I grabbed some towels at the front desk and ran to the back where I found the gentleman slumped over by his truck with a gunshot wound to his neck and his back and blood everywhere," she said.
When officers arrived, they found the victim on the ground. He was pronounced dead shortly after.
Police believe the suspect and victim were acquaintances.
The SWAT team was called to the area near the intersection of Upas and Ray streets in North Park at about 12 p.m.
After obtaining a search warrant, police confirmed the suspect was not found in the apartment. Officials aren't sure how he escaped.
Several blocks of Upas and Ray streets were closed off for hours due to the heavy police presence. Residents were not able to enter their homes and several businesses were closed.
The victim has been identified, but his identity will not be released pending family notification.
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