San Diego police are hunting for a gunman after a 64-year-old man was found shot to death yesterday on a sidewalk near Chicano Park in Barrio Logan, turning a familiar route under the Coronado Bridge into an overnight crime scene.
Officers converged on National Avenue and the approach to the park beneath the bridge shortly after the shooting, blocking off streets as homicide detectives worked under the glow of patrol car lights. Neighbors reported a large police presence as investigators began the slow work of reconstructing the final moments of the victim’s life.
Someone called the police at about 10:05 PM to report a man lying on a sidewalk along National Avenue. Responding officers found the 64-year-old victim with a gunshot wound, and he did not survive, authorities said. Detectives believe the shooter, described as a man in his 20s, ran north into Chicano Park after the attack. The victim’s name has not yet been released, pending notification of his family. Investigators planned to spend Wednesday collecting evidence, interviewing residents and checking for surveillance video, and asked anyone with information to call the San Diego Police Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Chicano Park's History and Recent Incidents
Chicano Park, known citywide for its bold murals and deep roots in neighborhood activism, is usually a backdrop for community events rather than crime tape. Still, the area has seen periodic violence that can make investigations more complicated.
In 2024, a teenager was fatally shot near the I-5 on-ramp by the park, as reported by the Times of San Diego. Local television stations have also covered nonfatal shootings in and around the park, including coverage by KGTV. Those earlier cases highlighted how seemingly minor witness details and surveillance footage often become the turning point in otherwise stalled investigations.
How Investigators Are Asking For Help
Detectives are again leaning on the community, urging anyone who was in the National Avenue corridor or Chicano Park area late Tuesday to come forward. That includes residents with doorbell cameras, drivers with dash-camera footage, and anyone who noticed a person running or a suspicious vehicle around the time of the shooting.
The City of San Diego police contact page lists the Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293, and anonymous tips can be sent through San Diego County Crime Stoppers or by calling 888-580-8477. Investigators stress that even a short clip of video, a partial vehicle description or a small detail about a stranger in the area could help them connect the dots.
Police say the investigation remains active as they track down leads and speak with potential witnesses. The department has withheld additional information while it notifies the victim’s next of kin, and officials have publicly urged residents to avoid spreading speculation while detectives do their work, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.
