San Diego police are again asking for the public's help after a predawn shooting outside a Kearny Mesa hookah bar left a 21-year-old man dead and a woman injured. The gunfire erupted during a large gathering in the parking lot of Nara Ultra Lounge, and the shooter was gone before officers pulled up. Detectives say many people were there but have yet to come forward, and a Crime Stoppers reward is on the table for anyone willing to break the silence.
Police describe scene and timeline
The shooting started around 4:30 AM on June 20 in the parking lot in front of Nara Ultra Lounge at 8065 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., according to the San Diego Police Department. The suspected gunman fled in a vehicle before patrol officers arrived, the Times of San Diego reported. Officers found two gunshot victims and paramedics rushed them to a hospital, where the male victim later died.
Victim identified; suspect details limited
Authorities have identified the man who was killed as 21-year-old Luis Miguel Sandoval Diaz. A 37-year-old woman who was also shot was treated and released, according to NBC 7 San Diego. Detectives say the shooter is believed to be a man in his 20s who left the area in a vehicle, although police have not released a detailed description of the car.
Police appeal and Crime Stoppers reward
Investigators renewed their public appeal Thursday, saying they are convinced that people who attended the gathering saw or recorded something that could help identify the gunman. San Diego County Crime Stoppers is accepting anonymous tips at 888-580-8477 or online at sdcrimestoppers.org, and tipsters may qualify for a $1,000 reward, according to reporting by 10News.
How this fits into a broader pattern
Local officials have been taking a harder look at nightlife spots tied to repeated violence. In July, a Logan Heights hookah lounge was ordered closed after authorities labeled it a "magnet for criminal activity," highlighting how tricky it is to police late-night hangouts. That shutdown, paired with the still-unsolved Kearny Mesa killing, has renewed both community concern and regulatory scrutiny, according to the Times of San Diego.
How to contact investigators
Anyone with information about the shooting, including bystander video or details about who left the parking lot, is asked to call the San Diego Police Department Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or contact Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477. Detectives say even small bits of information can matter and continue to review security footage and other evidence from the scene.
The case remains under investigation and no arrests have been announced, local outlets report, per NBC 7 San Diego.
