San Diego County Crime Stoppers, along with the San Diego Police Department's Western Division, are urging the community to help identify and apprehend suspect(s) involved in multiple hate crime incidents in the Hillcrest area. The string of attacks, which police believe are connected, began on May 18, when a pellet gun was discharged from a vehicle toward a business on University Ave. In a series of related developments, individuals and establishments in the vicinity were targeted by gel pellets, though fortunately, with minimal injuries.
The incidents spanned several locations, with no injuries reported in most cases, except a noteworthy injury at Rich’s Nightclub, where an employee required minor surgery after being struck in the eye. The police are now actively seeking to apprehend those who chose to attack innocent people brazenly. The vehicle linked to the crimes is a newer, black sedan, images of which have been disseminated to solicit public assistance. In a move to amplify the search, the San Diego LGBTQ+ Historic Task Force and the Hate Crime Fund, in collaboration with Crime Stoppers, are offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
Crime Stoppers and the SDPD are treating these assaults on the community with the utmost gravity, recognizing the serious nature of hate crimes and their profound impact on targeted populations. Community members must come forward with any information that could bring these perpetrators to justice and restore a sense of security in the area. Tips can be submitted anonymously to the Crime Stoppers tip line or through their website.
