La Jolla Shooting Victims Continue to Recover

The two men shot in separate incidents in La Jolla Wednesday by the same suspect continued to recover Thursday.

Hans Petersen, 48, a former biotech entrepreneur living in the University Towne Center area, is accused of shooting his former business partner, Steve Dowdy, 53, through a window while standing outside Dowdy’s home on Waverly Avenue in the Bird Rock community around 3 a.m. Wednesday.

Dowdy was shot in the lower back. His wife was in the room at the time, but was not injured.

Four hours later, officials say Petersen allegedly shot his brother-in-law, Ronald Fletcher, 43, who lives with his two daughters in a house on Cottontail just up the hill from Dowdy’s home.

Fletcher was shot in the stomach at his home. His sister – Petersen’s estranged wife, Bonnie Fletcher – said her brother wrestled the gun free and hit Petersen over the head.

When police arrived at the La Jolla home, Petersen was taken into custody and Fletcher was transported to a hospital.

On Thursday, police offered insight into the alleged motive for the shooting involving Dowdy. Investigators say Petersen and Dowdy were former business partners and Petersen blamed him for his job loss.

A source tells NBC 7 Dowdy and Petersen had a joint business venture that went sour. Dowdy settled, but Petersen, still angry about the outcome, sued.

Meanwhile, Peterson and Bonnie Fletcher were going through a bitter divorce.

On Wednesday night, Bonnie spoke with NBC 7 and said her brother had been protecting her throughout the divorce. She said her brother, who’s a real estate agent, had helped her sell some property she owned with Petersen as part of their separation. The move angered Petersen.

Throughout the divorce, Bonnie said she sometimes stays at her brother’s house. Police are still investigating whether Petersen was also looking for Bonnie at the time of the shooting on Cottontail.

Both Dowdy and Ronald Fletcher are recovering at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla and are expected to survive.

On Thursday, Bonnie’s divorce attorney Lori Clark Viviano said Ronald was still hospitalized, but on the mend.

“He’s definitely doing better. He’s not intubated anymore. He’s talking and he’s on his way to recovery,” said Viviano.

Meanwhile, Dowdy – a professor at UCSD School of Medicine – is also recovering from a gunshot wound to the lower back. No information was released Thursday about his current condition.

As for Petersen, officials say he was treated at a hospital and then booked into custody. He’s scheduled to appear in court Monday for his arraignment.

Petersen faces several charges, including burglary, shooting into an occupied dwelling and three counts of attempted murder -- including one count involving Dowdy’s wife who was also in the room when Dowdy was shot on Waverly Avenue.

On Thursday, San Diego police said Petersen’s vehicle had been located near the intersection of La Jolla Rancho Road and La Jolla Corona Drive and impounded.

The blue 2007 BMW is now being processed for evidence.

Bonnie’s attorney said a new temporary restraining order has been issued against Petersen. The estranged wife had previously issued another temporary restraining order against him, but it was changed to a stay-away order back in January.

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