A 34-year-old man found critically wounded in the driveway of a home in San Diego’s East County died Friday night, officials confirmed.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department (SDSO) said deputies were called at around 10 p.m. to investigate reports of an assault in front of a home in the 1300 block of Oro Street in unincorporated El Cajon.
When deputies arrived, they discovered a man lying in the driveway of the home, suffering from trauma to his upper body. He was alive, but badly injured. Deputies began treating the man, as paramedics rushed to the scene.
The victim was taken to a local hospital where he died a short time later, the SDSO said.
.@SDSheriff Homicide detectives tell me this is the 28th homicide in 2016, the highest rate of homicides in a decade for their jurisdiction pic.twitter.com/EMnExjKiQu
— Ramon Galindo (@RamonGalindoNBC) November 5, 2016
The SDSO said that during the investigation, detectives tracked down El Cajon resident Vincent Frank Pedersen, 43, as the suspect in the homicide. Pedersen was arrested at a home down the street from the crime scene -- in the 700 block of Oro Street.
SDSO Lt. Kenneth Nelson said Pedersen faces one count of murder in the killing of the victim, who has not yet been identified. The motive behind the shooting is unknown.
Neighbors were shocked to see deputies swarming the street, since the area is typically pretty quiet.
Resident Bob Whittle said he was watching TV with his family when they heard what sounded like a shot coming from outside.
"It's very quiet; it’s a good neighborhood," Whittle told NBC 7. "All our neighbors are great, and everyone kinda looks out for each other."
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Neighbor Paula Griswold said she saw dozens of patrol cars from the sheriff’s department on the street overnight and crime scene investigators.
She said seeing deputies swarming the home where the victim was found did not surprise her because that house has been bringing unwanted activity to her neighborhood for quite some time.
“We’ve had problems with them for years,” Griswold explained. “We’ve tried to get it taken care of. We’ve had some issues over the years just because of the whole situation, the drug situation. “
“But it’s sad that it had to happen like this,” she added. “We live in a great neighborhood.”
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information on this case can reach out to the SDSO’s Homicide Detail at (858) 974-2321 or (858) 565-5200.
SDSO homicide detectives told NBC 7 this marks the 28th homicide in their jurisdiction this year -- the highest rate of homicides in a decade for their jurisdiction.
