A four-year-old boy who was taken by his father after a shooting in San Marcos was reunited with his mother several hours later.
Sheriff's deputies said someone dropped off the boy at his house in San Marcos unharmed, after he had been taken from the scene of a shooting by his father. At the time, they said they believed he was at risk.
The boy’s father, Zauren Hernandez, reportedly shot his brother-in-law twice just before 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in front of a home in the 200 block of Avenida De Suerte, according to a San Diego County Sheriff’s Department news bulletin.
The search for his father, Zaureen, continues. Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff's Department at (858) 565-5200. You can also call the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477.
Sheriff's officials said the shooting resulted after the men were fighting over a cigarette butt in the driveway.
Deputies said Hernandez then ran away, taking his son, Hugo Hernandez, with him.
An Amber Alert hasn't been issued because deputies have no information about any vehicle involved in the fleeing.
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Responding deputies found Santos sitting in the driveway and he was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Sheriff's Department Spokeswoman Jan Caldwell said deputies believed the boy could be at risk.
"We have every reason to believe he is at risk because his father has a handgun and we don't know what he's capable of," she said.
Nearby Jolianne Elementary School was placed in lockdown temporarily "in an abundance of caution" as deputies searched for the father and son, Caldwell said. The lockdown was lifted a short time later.
The Fugitive Task Force was tasked with locating Hernandez and his son.
Zauren Hernandez is described as 30 years old, 5 feet 9 inches, between 170 and 190 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a dark-colored T-shirt and blue jeans.
His son, Hugo, is described as 4 feet 11 inches, between 70 and 80 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a gray T-shirt with green and dark stripes, green and black shorts and flip flops.
