A man was taken into custody after firing rounds from a rifle at a bicyclist on the Mission Beach boardwalk early Thursday, the San Diego Police Department said.
A man said he was riding his bicycle along the boardwalk near Nantasket Court, about a half-mile north of Belmont Park, when a man with a rifle began firing at him before 1:45 a.m., SDPD Lt. Erwin Manansala said.
Police said the two men, who appear not to know each other, got into some kind of verbal argument before gunfire erupted, Manansala said. The bicyclist rode off when he saw the suspect pull out a firearm. He was not struck.
SDPD was first called to the scene by a neighbor who reported hearing shots fired in the area. After speaking with the bicyclist, police set up a perimeter in the area and began a search for the suspect by helicopter and by ground, Manansala said.
Rifle casings were found at the boardwalk. Police also searched the man's home and found a rifle inside a bedroom, Manansala said.
The suspect, identified as 27-year-old Alexandre Grinius, was found about three blocks away and taken into custody. Video from the scene showed SDPD officers taking him down to the ground after he refused orders to stop biting.
Court records show that Grinius had a Gun Violence Emergency Protective Order (GVPO) issued against him earlier this month. The order allows police to confiscate someone's legally owned weapons if they are deemed a threat to the community.
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According to the GVPO, officers responded to his home following a physical altercation invovling him and his mother. Grinius allegedly told police he had a gun and said people were out to get him.
"Grinius is making rambling statements and does not appear to be in touch with reality," the report says.
Grinius's order was set to expire Friday, May 24, but court records show the order was dismissed Wednesday.
It is unknown if the rifle found inside Grinius's bedroom was among weapons returned to him by the court, or if Grinius has had his weapons returned to him at all.
Grinius faces charges including discharging a firearm in a negligent manner, assault with a deadly weapon.
Neighbors of Grinius told NBC 7 he had mental issues, but has never been violent. A family friend said his family is very wealthy and that Grinius doesn't work. A neighbor described the situation as a perfect case of "affluenza."
No other information was available.
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