San Diego police have arrested a 19-year-old man in connection with pellet gun attacks in the Hillcrest neighborhood, a hub for members of San Diego's LGBTQ+ community, which prompted a hate-crime investigation.
Hernán Garduño Hernández of East County faced a judge on Friday. The 19-year-old faces six felony counts of battery, each with hate crime allegations. He's pleaded not guilty and denied all allegations.
Relevant content:
San Diego police were investigating two separate series of shootings, in May and September, that they did not believe were connected. Hernández is accused of being involved in three attacks that took place on Sept. 7.
Get top local stories in San Diego delivered to you every morning. >Sign up for NBC San Diego's News Headlines newsletter.
Six people were hit with pellets outside Urban MO's Bar & Grill and Burger Lounge about a block further down University Avenue, according to police. Although no one was seriously injured, because the allegation is that this was a hate-related crime, the defendant faces more serious charges.
The deputy district attorney said police found a gel blaster device and hundreds of gel pellets inside Hernández's car.
In court, Hernández's defense attorney argued that the defendant didn't know the culture in Hillcrest.
"He was not aware that it was a gay, homosexual community. I think that's a big deal," the defense attorney said. "I don't think it screams that it is a gay, homosexual community. I think it is a community like any other."
Benjamin Nicholls, the executive director of the Hillcrest Business Association, called that argument "absolutely laughable."
"Everyone knows Hillcrest. We have a giant parade every year to talk about what this neighborhood is about," Nicholls said.
If found guilty, Hernández, who remains in custody, could face six years and four months in prison. Bond was set at $30,000, and his next court appearance is later this month.
Hillcrest shooting sprees
The May attacks started in the early morning hours of the 18th at several businesses that make up the gay scene in Hillcrest, including:
- The Rail at Fifth and Robinson avenues, where one of the projectiles struck a security guard on the arm
- Number One Fifth Avenue
- Rich's on University Avenue, where three people were struck, including an employee who had to undergo minor surgery for a resulting eye injury
- Pecs Bar, also on University Avenue
Surveillance video from The Rail showed the moment the bar's security guard was shot in the arm by a pellet. Police said at least three people had varying degrees of injuries, none that were life-threatening.
Authorities believe the pellets were fired from what's often called an "Orbeez" gun that shoots gel pellets.
Eddie Reynoso was the VIP Host at Rich's Night Club in May when he was shot in the eye with a gel pellet. Hernández has not been linked to this attack. NBC 7 spoke with Reynoso about the last few months, and the impact the attack had on him.
"I am incredibly angry. My life has completely changed. I am a different person that I was on May 17," he said.
Reynoso physically recovered but says he suffers from PTSD and left his job.
"I've lost a lot. My sense of safety. My sense of self. There are days when I completely disassociate," Reynoso said.
The same night, a man was targeted by the gel pellets while walking with his wife in Old Town — an assault that is not believed to have been hate-motivated, police said.
In those five attacks, the suspect vehicle was described as a black late-model sedan with one or more occupants. A $2,000 reward was offered this week for tips that led to an arrest in this case.
Reynoso says he won't be whole until there is an arrest and conviction.
Those incidents are separate from the series of pellet gun attacks in Hillcrest that happened in early September, in which one incident was reported on 600 University Ave., and two others were reported near University Avenue, SDPD Lt. Jason Weeden said.
The suspects in the September incidents were seen driving a light-colored minivan, SDPD said.
The deputy district attorney says they are conducting ongoing investigations to see if more people were involved.
