Police are investigating a home invasion in Clairemont Mesa after a 25-year-old man was shot in the torso Monday morning. There is evidence of a marijuana grow at the apartment and police lieutenant Darryl Hoover indicated it might be a targeted break in.
Officers were called to the home, at 3710 Boyd Ave., after the man who was shot called police. Hoover said they are looking for four black male teenagers in dark clothing they believe are responsible.
"It appears it may have been a drug rip, at this point in time," Hoover said.
A police chopper is looking for the suspects. Hoover said he does not believe this was a random crime and doesn't think residents in the area are in any danger.
“We want to make it clear based on our current investigation, that it appears to be drug related, versus any other thing," Hoover said. "It's not just someone going around and attacking strangers for reasons other than maybe people involved in criminal activity."
Hoover said there was no active pursuit and no better description of the suspects. He's not sure how they got away, or which direction they went.
The man was transported to Sharp Memorial Hospital.
Local
Cassandra Edwards, who lives in the apartment complex with her husband and two children, said she was surprised a crime like this could happen there.
“It’s like mostly families and everybody brings their kids out to play in the front yard and God, it’s like nothing like this has ever happened before, as far as I know,” she said. “You know, I’ve never seen this many cop cars on this little street before.”
She is also surprised that someone is growing marijuana in their apartment, across the street.
“(It) just doesn’t seem like the type of neighborhood that would be conducive to that kind of thing,” she said.
