A man was shot in the leg on a hiking trail in San Marcos Saturday, authorities said.
The shooting occurred around 12:30 a.m. Saturday near the intersection of Questhaven Road and San Elijo Road, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.
"The victim told deputies he was walking on a trail when he was approached by three individuals wearing dark hoodies. At some point, the victim was shot in the leg," the department said.
He was taken to a hospital, and was expected to make a full recovery, authorities said.
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The three suspects ran from the scene and were at large, according to the department.
Deputies said they later found a so-called "ghost gun" near the scene.
No further information was immediately available.
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Authorities urged anyone with information about the shooting to call the sheriff's department at 858-565-5200.
Gunshot victim knocks on neighbor's door for help
NBC 7 spoke with the North County family whom the gunshot victim went to for help as he was bleeding on their front porch.
Bryan Mortlock said the man who got shot stumbled down the block, even leaving a trail of blood behind him.
The doorbell rang, and Mortlock's wife got up to answer it.
"She came downstairs and opened the door, and there was a gentleman out the door," Mortlock said. "He was bent over and bleeding and said, 'I need help.'"
His wife went upstairs and got Mortlock, who went outside using the side door.
"I came around, and I saw that he was bleeding and a good amount of blood, so I was concerned," he said. "I ran back inside, told my wife to call 911, and then ran upstairs, grabbed some towels, tried to come downstairs. He had a belt. He had taken it off to use it as a tourniquet to tie off the blood. And then I just tried to help him."
Mortlock got the gunshot victim some water and said the police came around five minutes later. He says a man bleeding out on your doorstep could be scary for anybody but urged others to do the same thing he and his wife did.
"Obviously, be cautious," he said. "You have to protect your family, but don't not help someone because you're afraid."
