The distraught father of a 16-year old shot and killed early Sunday morning in Mountain View said he believes his daughter was targeted by her killers.
Hannah Podhorsky, 16, was shot and killed just before 3 a.m. Sunday in the 700 block of S. 42nd St. Investigators said they are still looking for a motive in the attack. Hannah was a 10th grader at Mission Bay High School. She lived in National City with her mother.
"I do believe she was targeted," George Podhorsky said. "Hannah was the type of person who didn't keep her mouth shut. She would speak out."
Podhorsky insisted that his daughter was not a gang member, but he did say she associated with gang members and it may have cost her her life. He also said he had heard a story that Hannah may have been protecting a friend who was involved in a fight at a house party. He said his daughter had been in and out of trouble herself but was getting back on the right track.
"It's just painful," Podhorsky said. "What goes through my heart and my mind is that she was on her way back to being my ... to being Daddy's little girl. She was a loving child who God loved, and a lot of people loved."
The Pacific Beach Christian Church is organizing a memorial service and fundraiser to help offset Hannah's funeral expenses.
San Diego police are encouraging anyone with information in the case to call Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
