Crime and Courts

Correction: Man pulls ghost gun, shoots at hikers on Cowles Mountain: SDPD

The suspect has been charged with four counts of assault with a deadly weapon, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit and possessing a ghost gun.

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Ghost guns are untraceable firearms put together using unregulated kits. Here’s what you should know.

A spokesman for SDPD told NBC 7 on Monday night that the suspect in this case was a woman when, in fact, the person who allegedly fired the gun was a man, a different spokesman confirmed on Wednesday morning — Ed.

The relative quiet of a Sunday morning was pierced on Cowles Mountain this weekend when a man started arguing with people on the trail.

Police said that as the argument around 10:30 a.m. got heated, the man pulled out a ghost gun from a fanny pack and began firing at hikers above him on the trail near Golfcrest Drive and Navajo Road.

San Diego police arrived on the scene shortly after and arrested the man, who was accompanied by a female on the trail. On Wednesday morning, police identified the suspect as Jesus Castanada. The woman with him at the time was not charged.

Castanada, 19, was charged with four counts of assault with a deadly weapon and a single count of carrying a concealed weapon without a permit. He also was charged with possession of a ghost gun.

"At this time, we would not consider this incident ... an ongoing public safety issue at Cowles Mountain, but as always, would encourage the public to stay aware of their surroundings and call police if needed," San Diego police spokesman Daniel Meyer told NBC on Wednesday.

Castanada is due to be arraigned on April 8, according to the county district attorney's office.

Everything you need to know about ghost guns
Ghost guns are untraceable firearms put together using unregulated kits. Here’s what you should know.
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