Police Identify Bay Park Shooting Victim

Robert Colegrove, 45, was shot and killed on Denver Street Tuesday

Police have identified a man killed in a shooting in San Diego’s Bay Park area.

According to officials, Robert Howard Colegrove, 45, died Tuesday after being shot in the backyard of a home in the 2200-block of Denver Street.

Investigators believe acquaintance Jeret Needham, 42, shot Colegrove. Needham was arrested Tuesday evening in Clairemont in connection with the homicide.

Police were called to the deadly shooting in Bay Park around 2:30 p.m. When officers arrived at the home on Denver Street, they discovered Colegrove lying in the backyard, suffering from at least one gunshot wound to his upper torso.

Despite life-saving efforts, paramedics confirmed Colegrove’s death at the scene.

Needham fled the scene immediately after the shooting and made his way to a home in the 4600-block of Firestone Street in Clairemont. Dozens of officers surrounded the home, and about three hours later, Needham surrendered to police.

He was arrested and booked into jail in connection with the murder and is scheduled to appear in court on Friday.

Police have not yet released information regarding the motive behind the shooting.

On Wednesday, NBC 7 San Diego spoke to both the suspect’s and victim’s friends and neighbors.

Paul Schmidt told NBC 7 he’s known Needham for 10 to 15 years and said the suspect is married and has children. Schmidt called Needham a “nice, good guy” and said Needham is passionate about teaching children.

NBC 7 has learned from multiple sources, including a student, that Needham coaches wrestling at Madison High School. Police have not confirmed that detail, but the school’s website does list Needham as its wrestling coach.

Charleen Coleman told NBC 7 she also knows Needham. She said she was shocked to learn that he’s a suspect in the deadly shooting.

NBC 7 also spoke with one of Colegrove’s co-workers, who asked to only be identified by her first name, Marianne. The woman said she worked with Colegrove at a local entertainment company that builds stages.

Marianne said a vigil would be held for Colegrove outside his home on Denver Street later this week.

She said Colegrove’s girlfriend was home at the time of the shooting and tried to help save him. Marianne said Needham allegedly hopped the backyard fence and shot Colegrove in the yard, though those details have yet to be confirmed by police.

Marianne said Colegrove was a good person with a lot of good ideas and a bright future.

“He was a go-getter. He was really hard-working and tried to do his job really well. He was a good guy. I think that he’s up there somewhere trying to put those ideas to work, still,” she added.

Marianne said she personally met Needham once. She called him a “bad guy,” but would not elaborate.

On Wednesday, another co-worker posted a note to the front door of Colegrove’s home that read, in part:

“I heard what happened and I'm already missing Rob. Please if you need any help with anything call me. I'm so sorry, Rob didn't deserve this.”

The note was addressed to Colegrove’s girlfriend. Flowers were also left on the front step.

Meanwhile, witnesses and neighbors in Bay Park told NBC 7 that they typically saw a lot of different people going in and out of the Denver Street home.

One neighbor said she could often hear yelling and screaming coming from the home and got the impression that drugs may have been kept inside. She also said police have visited the residence in the past.

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