San Diego

2 Shot While Driving on Interstate 8 Near El Cajon Boulevard

The driver was shot once and a 29-year-old female passenger was shot multiple times, CHP officials said

A man and a woman were rushed to a hospital after they were shot while driving along Interstate 8 in San Diego's East County Monday night, the California Highway Patrol confirmed.

A 30-year-old La Mesa man was driving a black Nissan Sentra on I-8 around 9:30 p.m. when he told law enforcement officers the car was struck by gunfire.

The driver was shot once and a 29-year-old female passenger was shot multiple times, CHP officials said.

The victims' car was seen with multiple bullet holes in its passenger-side doors.

Both were struck in the lower part of their bodies, according to CHP Officer Travis Garrow. Their injuries were not life-threatening.

The victims said they do not know why the shooting happened, Garrow said. Investigators plan to reinterview the driver and passenger to learn more about the events prior to the shooting.

The victims exited the freeway and pulled over at a 76 gas station about two miles away. The Heartland Fire & Rescue Department responded and transported the victims to Sharp Memorial Hospital.

CHP officers shut down eastbound I-8 between Spring Street and State Route 125 and found multiple shell casings along the freeway, Garrow said. 

CHP did not say if the gunfire came from another car.

β€œWe obviously took the vehicle for evidence. We’re going to process it. We took a lot of pictures here (76 gas station), but the vehicle is going to get processed at a more controlled environment to where we can go through the vehicle thoroughly, try to recover what we can out of it and see where the investigation takes us,” Garrow said early Tuesday morning.

One witness has called CHP officials to describe what they saw along the stretch of I-8. 

The suspect vehicle may be a light-colored, newer car or SUV according to the victims.

NBC 7 heard emotional reaction from other drivers at the gas station on Tuesday.

Marcus Noble said he drives on the same stretch of I-8 all the time.

"I've got three youn boys. It kind of hits home for me. Escuse me, i'm getting a little emotional because I can't even imagine -- If that was myself and my family," Noble said.

Jennie Kaczmarczyk wonders where safety can be found these days.

"After, and it makes me emotional, after what happened in Gilroy, where's safe anymore? You know? If you're not safe at a garlic festival, you're not safe on the road..." Kaczmarczyk said.

Anyone with information can call the California Highway Patrol at their non-emergency number (800) TELL-CHP or (800) 835-5247.

Contact Us