A San Diego man died Sunday trying to shield his sister from a gunman, police said.
The man and his sister — both described as in their 20s — died after gunfire was reported around 8 p.m. behind a home on South 43rd Street.
The home belongs to Felipe Vega, a 39-year-old man who police are actively looking for in connection with the shooting.
A police spokesperson was not sure what started an argument in the home but investigators say Vega knew the two victims and was considered family to them.
"The family helped him a lot because when he didn't have a house, our family made room for him in the house," said the victims' sister Kimberly Ibarra-Velard.
The lieutenant told NBC 7 Vega first fired at the woman and that's when the brother tried to protect his sister. The brother was shot in the process, police said.
Officers and paramedics found the bodies of the two victims in a driveway behind the home.
Officials have not released the names of the victims but friends and family told NBC 7 the victims were Arline Iribe, 20, and Alexis Velarde, 22.
Arline was expected to graduate from UEI College this month to become a dental assistant.
"He was nice to all of us," said Ibarra-Velarde of Alexis. "Whenever my mom needed help, he was there."
"[My sister] helped my mom a lot too," she added.
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On Monday, Ibarra-Velarde gathered to mourn with her family, which included six siblings before Arline and Alexis were killed.
Now, they are pleaded with the suspect to turn himself in.
"Just face us," said Ibarra-Velarde. "We never did nothing wrong to you. Why did you do this to us? My brother loved you a lot too."
The motive for the shooting is unknown.
Anyone with information related to this incident can call the San Diego Police Department’s Homicide Unit or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
