An East County murder victim, slain outside a San Diego bar, had a long criminal history, including a hate crime conviction and documented ties to a "White Power" gang.
Christopher Hawthorne, 25, was at a live music performance at O'Connell's Bar on Morena Boulevard Saturday morning when he became involved in an argument in the parking lot. Officers received a report of 12 people fighting in front of the bar.
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"The shooter, not one of the original combatants, pulled out a handgun, chased Hawthorne down the sidewalk, and shot him where he was found," Lieutenant Kevin Rooney said.
When officers arrived, they found Hawthorne on the corner of Savannah Street and Morena Boulevard (one block from the bar). The victim died at the scene.
Court records reveal that in December, 2006, Hawthorne was charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon and a civil rights violations in the alleged beating of Eduardo Alderete. Records also reveal that Hawthorne was ordered to pay $4,068 in restitution to Alderete, and an addition $868 for Alderete's medical expenses.
Court documents show that Hawthorne apparently kicked Alderete with his boots. The criminal complaint lists "boots" as the "deadly weapon" that Hawthorne used in his hate crime attack.
Other terms of Hawthorne's probation included a requirement that he attend and complete psychiatric and substance counseling programs, if recommended by his probation officer, and that he "totally abstain from the use of alcohol".
The judge also ordered Hawthorne to complete an anger management program and to avoid any contact with the victim or his family.
Three months later, Hawthorne pleaded guilty to assault and commission of a hate crime, and admitted "making racial slurs during a fight".
He was sentenced to a year in local custody and placed on five years formal probation.
His terms of probation included so-called "gang conditions" that prohibited him from associating with the "VSAS, White Pride" gang.
Hawthorne was also ordered not to display any gang signs or gestures and not to wear any clothing that showed an affiliation with the "White Pride" gang.
In December, 2007, Hawthorne violated his probation.
Detectives identified a 17-year-old male from Los Angeles as the suspect. Officers arrested the teen at about 1:05 p.m. in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles.
A memorial has been set up at the place where Hawthorne was killed. A flyer with his photograph is posted along with flowers, a stuffed animal, and a balloon. In capital letters the flyer reads "Hail Our Fallen Comrade! 88!"
Eighty-eight is used as code among Neo-Nazis to identify each other. H is the 8th letter of the alphabet, so 88 is taken to stand for HH which in turn means Heil Hitler.
San Diego Homicide detectives are trying to see if there is a link to the number "88" printed on the flyer and the murder case.
Richard Tull lives across the street from Oconnell's Bar, just a few blocks up from the crime scene. He said he often hears people coming and going -- many times drunk. But this was different.
"You know what, I did hear gunshots, but it didn't even sound like -- it sounded like a cap gun, so it was a small caliber whatever it was," Tull said.
Sgt. Charles Lara says the victim was shot in the head. But in this normally quiet area, he doesn't want people to think this is something of a new trend.
"I think it's just the people here that were involved happened to be here when the fight broke out," Sgt. Lara said.
The police helicopter that flew over the scene has a telephoto lens that can see if evidence was tossed onto the ground or rooftops. A nearby building also has surveillance cameras. The owner said he would turn the tapes over to police. There are also cameras at the bar.
"This is not what you want to have in front of your business," said business owner Vincent Quintana.
The suspect will be transported back to San Diego and booked into Juvenile Hall.
