A 46-year-old man is in custody after authorities linked him to two separate shootings on Palomar Mountain. Deputies identified the suspect as Ricardo Berron, who was arrested yesterday at San Diego International Airport and booked on two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, officials said.
Deputies from the Valley Center Sheriff's Substation said the most recent incident was reported on Feb. 23. A man parked on the 32900 block of South Grade Road near the summit of Palomar Mountain was approached by another man, who pulled out a handgun and fired a single round through the driver's-side window while the victim sat inside. The victim was not injured, according to a San Diego County Sheriff's Office news release.
Investigation and arrest
Detectives said they noticed similarities between the Feb. 23 shooting and an Oct. 6, 2025 incident involving the same victim, who was struck in the arm in that earlier case. Those parallels helped investigators develop probable cause to identify a suspect.
Authorities said Berron was taken into custody yesterday at San Diego International Airport. A search warrant served at his Chula Vista residence turned up a 9mm handgun believed to be connected to at least one of the shootings, as reported by NBC 7 San Diego.
Legal status
Berron was booked into the Vista Detention Facility on suspicion of two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, and authorities say the investigation remains active. The Times of San Diego also reported on the arrest and the seizure of the firearm.
