Early Saturday in Bankers Hill, what started as a typical late night outside the SRO Lounge ended with people diving for cover when someone opened fire with BB‑type rounds at a group of patrons. At least two people were hit as they stood outside the bar, one bleeding from a hand wound and another leaving with a large welt. Staff said the victims were members of the transgender community and regulars were left shaken by what they described as what looked like a targeted attack.
Bartender Pedro Lomeli told reporters he heard “loud plops, pop, pop, pop” and watched 10 to 15 patrons rush outside as people realized they had been struck, according to 10News. Lomeli said he counted roughly five to 10 BBs and that witnesses saw an older‑model black Ford F‑150 speeding away from the scene immediately after the shots.
Police say two scenes investigated
The San Diego Police Department confirmed officers were called to two related scenes, one in the 1800 block of Fifth Avenue and another in the 1000 block of University Avenue in Hillcrest, and said those hit in the incidents sustained only minor injuries, according to LGBTQ San Diego County News. Investigators are working to determine whether the new reports are connected to earlier pellet‑gun drive‑bys in Hillcrest. Bar staff said they have filed a police report and are cooperating with detectives as the investigation unfolds.
Context: repeated pellet attacks in Hillcrest
Last year, drive‑by pellet and gel‑pellet attacks struck several businesses in Hillcrest and were investigated as possible hate crimes, reporting by KPBS shows. In a separate case tied to a series of incidents in September, four 19‑year‑old defendants later pleaded guilty to assault and accepted plea deals that require them to participate in a prevention program, according to Patch. Those prosecutions underscored that so‑called nonlethal projectiles can still lead to serious criminal charges when used in drive‑by assaults.
Community reaction and safety concerns
Local advocates say this latest attack has reopened wounds in a neighborhood that thought the pellet‑gun scare might be over. “Frustration that this is happening again. It’s not a prank. This is a targeted attack on the LGBT community,” Eddie Reynoso told 10News, noting that he was hit in the eye during a drive‑by in May. Business owners say a string of harassment, from eggs and paintballs to BB‑type projectiles, has chipped away at the sense of safety that usually draws people to bars in the neighborhood.
Staff at the SRO Lounge said they reported the incident to police and urged anyone with dashcam or cellphone video to share it with investigators. Community outlets have previously noted that the bar has faced earlier harassment. Witnesses and officers say even small details, such as vehicle make, flags, wheel covers or minor dents, could help identify a suspect. SDPD has asked residents with information to call (619) 531‑2000 with tips, according to LGBTQ San Diego County News.
Legal context
Authorities have already brought cases linked to last year’s series of drive‑by pellet attacks, and defendants in that case pleaded guilty to felony assault counts in deals that include counseling and a violence‑prevention program, reporting shows. Those outcomes suggest prosecutors are prepared to pursue serious charges when nonlethal projectiles are used in coordinated assaults on public gathering spots, according to Patch.
