CLAIREMONT, Calif. — A teenager was shot in the leg Monday afternoon during a drive-by shooting near a bus stop in the Clairemont neighborhood, sending police on a search for multiple suspects who fled the scene.
The shooting happened around 2:14 p.m. near the intersection of Genesee Avenue and Mount Etna Drive, according to the San Diego Police Department.
Officer Colin Steinbroner said the teenage victim was standing near a bus stop when someone inside a passing sedan opened fire, striking him in the leg.
Emergency crews arrived quickly and provided medical aid before the victim was taken to a hospital. Police later confirmed he was in stable condition.
Witnesses describe chaotic scene
Several people who were nearby when the shooting occurred described a frightening and confusing scene. One witness, who was working at a flower shop close to where the shooting took place, said she and her coworkers heard a series of gunshots before rushing outside to see what had happened.
She told reporters she saw the victim lying on the ground, bleeding from his leg, surrounded by people trying to help him. She described him as quiet and still, saying he appeared calm despite his injuries.
The witness also said a man claiming to be the victim’s brother showed up at the scene shortly afterward and was visibly distressed.
Police said multiple witnesses reported seeing a dark colored sedan involved in the shooting. According to investigators, the car had at least a driver and a passenger inside, though some witnesses indicated there may have been as many as four people in the vehicle at the time of the shooting.
Investigators turn to license plate technology
Detectives said witnesses were able to provide a partial description of the suspect vehicle, including its license plate number. The car was last seen traveling south toward Balboa Avenue after the shooting.
To help track down the vehicle, investigators said they are using automated license plate reader technology positioned throughout the area. This system allows police to scan plates on passing vehicles and compare them against vehicles linked to crimes, potentially helping detectives narrow down the sedan’s location or recent movements.
Police believe the passenger in the vehicle was the one who fired the shots, based on the location of shell casings found at the scene.
Authorities said the shooting appears to have been an isolated and targeted incident rather than a random act of violence. Investigators noted that the teenage victim may have been communicating with someone inside the car just before the gunfire began, suggesting some level of prior contact or conflict between the parties involved.
No arrests had been announced as of Monday evening, and police have not released a detailed description of the suspects.
The shooting prompted a heavy police presence in the area for several hours as officers worked to gather evidence and interview witnesses. Traffic in the surrounding streets was affected as authorities urged drivers to seek alternate routes while the investigation continued.
Nearby Madison High School was not placed on lockdown following the shooting, according to the San Diego Union School District, since the area was secured and no ongoing threat was identified near campus.
The San Diego Police Department continues to investigate the shooting and is asking residents in the area to remain aware of their surroundings. Anyone with information about the suspects or the vehicle involved is encouraged to contact police as the search continues.
