A shooting in La Mesa Thursday evening had police searching for suspects well into the night.
The shooting happened just before 5:30 p.m. in the 5800-block of Amarillo Avenue.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found a male victim in his 20s lying on the ground in front of a residence, suffering from a gunshot wound to the head.
He was transported to the hospital in critical condition, police said. The victim later succumbed to his injuries and died.
For hours, officers searched for two male suspects in their 20s on the ground and in the air with the sheriff's department ASTREA helicopter. The suspects were last seen running away from the scene in opposite directions, police said.
La Mesa Police said they had received reports Thursday of men knocking on doors and asking for rides near Jackson Drive and Kelton Avenue.
Police are warning residents in the area not to help anyone who may seem suspicious. The suspects could be armed and dangerous, officials said.
By 11 p.m., officers had called off the ground search for the suspects and are now relying on leads to find the men.
Police said the first suspect is described as a 5-foot-9 Hispanic male in his 20s with dark hair and a normal build. The second suspect is a white male in his mid-20s wearing a white baseball hat, a T-shirt and baggy gray shorts.
Police said the motive for the shooting is unclear at this point.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact the La Mesa Police Department at (619) 667-1400 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-TIPS.
Check back for updates.
