San Diego police are searching for the suspects who shot and killed a 19-year-old woman and wounded a 16-year-old boy at Southcrest Community Park Saturday morning.
Police received a 911 call at around 12 a.m. regarding a possible shooting at the park. When they arrived at the scene they found two people with gunshot wounds.
San Diego Fire-Rescue also responded to the scene and transported both victims to the nearest hospital.
The woman, identified as Leah Michelle Horne, 19, was later pronounced dead at the hospital. The other victim underwent surgery and is expected to survive, SDPD said.
Horne is survived by her younger brother and father, Michael, who described her as a vibrant girl with a big personality.
"In a million years I wouldn't have thought my daughter would be gone today," Michael Horne said.
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No arrests have been made. Police are searching for two men in their 20s who were wearing dark clothing at the time, according to SDPD. No further description was available.
Michael Horne made a plea for anyone with information to come forward to police.
"Come forward. As a father losing a child like this, any parent would know, it's just heart wrenching, it's so heart breaking to have such a promising future for a young lady to be cut short because of any type of violence. Just please, please come out. Any bit of information, a car, any type you can provide please come out and provide it," Horne said.
Anyone with information can call the Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
The Horne family created a fundraiser for Leah’s unexpected funeral expenses.
A woman NBC 7 spoke with at the park Saturday morning said she heard the gunshots and tried to help the shooting victims.
“I just tried to comfort them and tell them to breathe,” said Irunda Woodworth, as she held back tears. She said she knew both the victims.
She tried to share some joyful moments about the victims but struggled due to the situation.
“I just don’t know how to be happy knowing my friends were hurt. I don’t know what to say, or what to feel, or how to react," Woodworth said.
Others at the park Saturday morning admit the park is not safe after dark.
“I don’t come out at night," said Marian Graham. “It’s best not to walk alone.”
“It’s scary; it makes me want to be more leery,” said Steve Allen, another person at the park. “I don’t come here at night because it’s kind of dangerous at night.”
Investigators from the San Diego Police Homicide Unit were called to the scene to investigate.
No other information was available.
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