SAN DIEGO, CA – Authorities are currently searching for suspects involved in the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old Navy sailor in the East Village area. The incident, which took place early Saturday morning, has left police appealing for public assistance.
The event unfolded at the intersection of F Street and Ninth Avenue, where officers discovered the young sailor with multiple gunshot wounds. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, the victim succumbed to his injuries. The U.S. Navy has confirmed that the deceased was assigned to a ship homeported in San Diego.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the sailor was involved in an altercation with a group of men at a nightclub in the Gaslamp Quarter shortly before the shooting. The confrontation appears to have continued outside the club, culminating in the deadly encounter. Detectives are working to determine if the two incidents are connected.
Witnesses described the suspects as four black men dressed in dark clothing, last seen fleeing eastbound on F Street. This incident follows a recent surge in violence in the Gaslamp area, where multiple arrests were made during a clash with police just two weeks ago.
With the Labor Day weekend drawing large crowds downtown, San Diego police have increased their presence, deploying officers on 12-hour shifts and assigning bike teams and additional personnel to the Gaslamp Quarter. Authorities hope these measures will help prevent further violence.
Investigators are currently processing evidence and seeking witnesses to piece together the events leading up to the shooting. Anyone with information is urged to contact the San Diego Police Department or Crime Stoppers.
The identity of the victim is being withheld pending notification of his family. The community mourns the loss of a young sailor whose life was tragically cut short.