Brandon Robinson, who was shot to death on Labor Day in Balboa Park, worked two jobs and had lots of friends and would never be the target of a killer according to his family. Investigators agree and think Robinson was probably the victim of a bullet intended for someone else.
The shooting happened on September 6 at 8:24 p.m. near Jacaranda and Pershing Drives. Robinson was found on the ground next to his motorcycle but investigators say Robinson was actually on the bike when he was shot.
Despite a large number of people in the park at the time of the shooting, investigators have not identified a suspect or made any arrests.
On Wednesday, the state added $50,000 to the rewards offered in Robinson's case hoping the offer of a hefty reward would generate new leads.
Larry Robinson, Brandon's father, thinks someone had to see the killing and that, at the very least, someone must have heard the shot that killed his youngest son. He wants any witnesses to come forward and help police catch the killer.
"Was he the intended victim?" Robinson said. "We didn't think so. Not at all. Not a little bit."
Police said the evidence appears to confirm the family's theory: that Brandon was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time when he and a friend went to a birthday party in Balboa Park.
"There was an unrelated fight, and perhaps somebody pulled out a gun and fired a round, and Brandon was an unintended victim and struck with a stray round that was fired," said Lt. Kevin Rooney of the San Diego Police Department.
Detectives are looking for witnesses who can lead them to a suspect.
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The state's reward offer is in addition to the San Diego Crime Stoppers reward of $1,000 and the reward offered by Robinson's family and friends of up to $1,500.
Anyone with information on the identity and or location of the person/persons responsible for this crime is asked to call SDPD homicide at (619) 531-2293 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477.
