Seven adults were shot, one woman fatally, when a gunman who witnesses said never left his poolside chair opened fire on a birthday party at an University City apartment complex Sunday.

Police shot and killed the suspect, later identified as 49-year-old Peter Selis, a resident at the upscale La Jolla Crossroads complex on Judicial Drive near the Westfield UTC Shopping Center.

A 2015 bankruptcy filing stated that Selis, a father and a car mechanic at a Ford dealership in San Diego, faced crushing debt.

Authorities said the shooter, armed with a semi-automatic pistol, was white and all the victims were people of color — four black women, two black men and one Latino man. The woman killed was not identified.

Advertisement

Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman said investigators have not determined a motive, and were still interviewing witnesses. Authorities were unsure if Selis knew any of the victims.

1 / 35 Walking to their press conference, victims who were at the shooting during a birthday party celebration last Sunday at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments, called for a press conference to speak with the news reporters. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 2 / 35 Lauren Chapman who was at the birthday party celebration last Sunday at the La Jolla Crossroads apartment in University City, believes that Sunday’s shooting was a hate crime. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 3 / 35 Many of those who were at the last Sunday’s shooting at the La Jolla Crossroads apartment in University City stood holding hands as they answered questions from news reporters. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 4 / 35 Mychael Gary who was at the birthday celebration was the first to speak with new reporters about last Sunday’s shooting at the La Jolla Crossroads apartment in University City. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 5 / 35 Haley Thames answers question from the news reporters about the last Sunday’s shooting at the La Jolla Crossroads apartment in University City. L-R, Mychael Gary, Haley Thames and Allison Latta. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 6 / 35 SAN DIEGO, CA - MAY 2, 2017 - A view of the corner of the pool area at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments in University City where Peter Selis, 49, opened fire on a birthday party on Sunday. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 7 / 35 SAN DIEGO, CA - MAY 2, 2017 - Bullet holes are patched up in the pool area near where Peter Selis was sitting at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments in University City Sunday. Selig was shot and killed by police after he shot party goers at the pool. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 8 / 35 SAN DIEGO, CA - MAY 2, 2017 - Bullet holes are patched up in the pool area near where Peter Selis was sitting at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments in University City Sunday. Selig was shot and killed by police after he shot party goers at the pool. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 9 / 35 The pool area at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments in University City was the scene of a shooting on Sunday evening. Peter Selis, 49, who was seated in the lower left, opened fire on a group having a birthday party at the lower right. Seven adults were shot, one fatally. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 10 / 35 The pool area at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments in University City was the scene of a shooting on Sunday evening. Peter Selis, 49, who was seated in the lower left, opened fire on a group having a birthday party at the lower right. Seven adults were shot, one fatally. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 11 / 35 Remnants of a birthday party in the pool area at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments shows the chaotic scene after a shooting took place on Sunday. Peter Selis, 49, open fired on the party at the crowded pool. Seven people were wounded. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 12 / 35 Crews clean up blood on the ground at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments in University City where a mass shooting took placeSunday evening. Peter Selis, 49, shot seven people in the pool area. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 13 / 35 Remnants of a birthday party in the pool area at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments in University City shows the chaotic scene after a shooting took place Sunday evening. Peter Selis, 49, open fired on the party at the crowded pool. Seven people were wounded. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 14 / 35 Blood covers the ground near where Peter Selis, 49, sat and open fired on a birthday party at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments in University City Sunday evening. Seven people were wounded. Selis was shot and killed by police. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 15 / 35 Remnants of a birthday party in the pool area at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments shows the chaotic scene after a shooting took place on Sunday. Peter Selis, 49, open fired on the party at the crowded pool. Seven people were wounded. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 16 / 35 Remnants of a birthday party in the pool area at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments in University City shows the chaotic scene after a shooting took place Sunday evening. Peter Selis, 49, open fired on the party at the crowded pool. Seven people were wounded. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 17 / 35 People’s belongings remain at the pool area at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments in University City after a shooting took place Sunday evening. Peter Selis, 49, open fired on the party at the crowded pool. Seven people were wounded. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 18 / 35 Remnants of a birthday party in the pool area at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments shows the chaotic scene after a shooting took place on Sunday. Peter Selis, 49, open fired on the party at the crowded pool. Seven people were wounded. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 19 / 35 Blood covers the ground near where Peter Selis, 49, sat and open fired on a birthday party at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments in University City Sunday evening. Seven people were wounded. Selis was shot and killed by police. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 20 / 35 Peter Selis, 49, sat in this area and open fired on a birthday party at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments in University City Sunday evening. Seven people were wounded. Selis was shot and killed by police. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 21 / 35 Crews clean up blood on the ground at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments in University City where a mass shooting took placeSunday evening. Peter Selis, 49, shot seven people in the pool area. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 22 / 35 At the La Jolla Crossroads Apartments in La Jolla, SDPD Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman along with San Diego Mayor, Kevin Faulconer brief news reportrs on a gunman shooting 7 victims at the complex. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 23 / 35 A group of men who witnessed the shooter in La Jolla after reports of a gunman shooting 7 victims at La Jolla Crossroads Apartment complex. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 24 / 35 Drew Phillips witnessed the shooter reloading at an apartment complex in University City where the shooter eventually shot 7 victims in the swimming pool area. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 25 / 35 A crowd gathers at the corner of Golden Haven Drive and Judicial in University City after reports of a gunman shooting 7 victims at the La Jolla Crossroads Apartment complex. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 26 / 35 A unidentified woman is taken away by ambulance near the area in La Jolla where a gunman is reported to have shot 7 victims at a complex in University City. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 27 / 35 SDPD Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman briefs news reporters at the corner of Golden Haven Drive and Judicial in University City after reports of a gunman shooting 7 victims at the La Jolla Crossroads Apartment complex. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 28 / 35 A SDPD officers position t hemselves near the area in La Jolla where a gunman is reported to have shot 7 victims at a complex in University City. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 29 / 35 A SDPD officer stops to question a couple near the area in La Jolla where a gunman is reported to have shot 7 victims at a complex in University City. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 30 / 35 A unidentified woman is taken away by ambulance near the area in La Jolla where a gunman is reported to have shot 7 victims at a complex in University City. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 31 / 35 A group of men who witnessed the shooter in La Jolla after reports of a gunman shooting 7 victims at a complex in University City. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 32 / 35 SDPD police officers tape off the corner of Golden Haven Drive and Judicial in La Jolla after reports of a gunman shooting 7 victims at a complex in University City. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 33 / 35 SDPD Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman arrives at the corner of Golden Haven Drive and Judicial in La Jolla after reports of a gunman shooting 7 victims at a complex in University City. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 34 / 35 SDPD Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman arrives at the corner of Golden Haven Drive and Judicial in University City after reports of a gunman shooting 7 victims A group of men who witnessed the shooter in La Jolla after reports of a gunman shooting 7 victims at the La Jolla Crossroads Apartment complex. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 35 / 35 A crowd gathers at the corner of Golden Haven Drive and Judicial in La Jolla after reports of a gunman shooting 7 victims at a complex in University City. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune)

Partygoer Drew Phillips said shortly before the 6 p.m. shooting, his friend — who was celebrating his birthday — had approached Selis and offered him food and drink. The man declined, and continued to sit quietly yards away.

“Six or seven minutes later it’s just pow, pow, pow, pow — out of nowhere,” Phillips said. “...There was no indication that he was there to do evil.”

Advertisement

Everyone scattered, including a man who fell and broke his arm. Witnesses said there were about 30 people at the pool. At least one of the partygoers lived at the complex.

Phillips, of Escondido, said he hopped a fence where he spotted a Latino man he’d met minutes earlier at the party. He had been shot in his abdomen.

“He was just laying there, and just the look in his eyes — sheer terror,” Phillips said. “I threw my phone down. I just picked him up and I just carried him. I basically ran as fast as I could with him in my arms.”

San Diego Police Department Chief Shelley Zimmerman arrives Sunday, April 30, 2017 at the corner of Golden Haven Drive and Judicial in University City, San Diego, Calif. after reports of a gunman shooting seven victims at a complex in University City. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune)

Two young girls, ages 3 and 8, were with a grandmother and a nanny when the shooting started. Their grandfather, Shahrayar Jeff, said they escaped unscathed.

He said the older child described seeing Selis, in a baseball cap and glasses, “relaxing and shooting people.”

Two UC San Diego students who were in a nearby hot tub were too scared to bolt, but then slowly made their way to a wall. One of the students, 20-year-old Kaela Wong, said she heard Selis threaten women trying to help a victim.

“You can either leave or you can stay here and die,” Wong said she heard Selis say.

Advertisement

Zimmerman said a police helicopter arrived before officers on the ground, and the helicopter crew saw Selis apparently reloading his weapon. The crew directed a sergeant and two officers to the pool.

Police fired when Selis pointed his gun at them, Zimmerman said. She said it’s unclear if Selis fired at the officers.

A San Diego Police Department officer stops to question a couple on Sunday, April 30, 2017 near the area in Univeristy City, San Diego, Calif. where a gunman is reported to have shot seven victims at a complex in University City. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune)

Amit Godbole was in his apartment when he heard gunfire.

“It was like a war zone or something,” Godbole said. “There would be three or four shots, a pause and then more shots. I was trying to count them. I counted 30 or 40.”

Eight people — the seven shooting victims and the man who broke his arm — were taken to hospitals. Among the shooting victims was the man celebrating his birthday.

At least one of the party attendees lived at the upscale complex.

Several of the injured remained in critical condition, Zimmerman said Sunday night.

Advertisement

“Our hearts go out to all the victims, their families and anyone who witnessed this tragic event,” the chief said.

In the aftermath of the violence, pools of blood could be seen near a table filled with food under an umbrella. Red cups were scattered on the ground and a patio table lay on its side.

At a late night press conference, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer condemned the “horrific act.”

“We stand united as a city to reject this senseless violence,” he said.

karen.kucher@sduniontribune.com

UPDATES:

This story was updated at 1:30 a.m. on May 1.</s>San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman, right, speaks in front of a La Jolla apartment after a shooting Sunday, April 30, 2017, in San Diego as San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer looks on at right. Police shot and killed a 49-year-old man suspected of shooting several people Sunday at a birthday pool party in an apartment complex near the University of California, San Diego, authorities said. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)</s>SAN DIEGO (AP) — Police say officers shot and killed an armed man suspected of shooting eight people Sunday at an apartment complex in San Diego.

The San Diego police chief tells the Union-Tribune (http://bit.ly/2plxCfS ) that police received numerous reports of a man shooting people by a swimming pool at the complex near the University of California, San Diego.

Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman says three officers responded and shot the suspect after he pointed the gun at them.

She said several of the victims are in critical condition. Authorities have not released the names or ages of the victims.

The chief said she didn’t have any information about a motive or the identity of the gunman.</s>SAN DIEGO (AP) — Police say officers shot and killed an armed man suspected of shooting eight people Sunday at an apartment complex near the University of California, San Diego.

The San Diego police chief tells the Union-Tribune (http://bit.ly/2plxCfS ) that police received reports of a man shooting people by the swimming pool.

Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman says a department helicopter arrived first and its crew saw the suspect was still in the pool area and appeared to be reloading.

Three officers arrived on foot and shot the suspect after he pointed the gun at them.

She said several of the victims are in critical condition. Authorities have not released the names or ages of the victims.

The chief said she didn’t have any information about a motive or the identity of the gunman.</s>(AP) – Police say officers shot and killed a 49-year-old man suspected of shooting seven people Sunday at an apartment complex near the University of California, San Diego.

 The San Diego police chief said at a news conference Sunday night that police received reports of a man shooting people by the swimming pool.

 Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman says a department helicopter arrived first and saw the suspect still in the pool area and said he appeared to be reloading.

 Three officers shot the suspect after he pointed the gun at them.

 Zimmerman said four black women, two black men, and one Hispanic man were taken to hospitals with gunshot wounds. One of the women later died.

 One man broke his arm while fleeing.

 Zimmerman said the suspect was identified as Peter Selis.</s>SAN DIEGO — Police shot and killed a 49-year-old man suspected of shooting seven people Sunday at a birthday pool party in an apartment complex near the University of California, San Diego, authorities said.

Police received reports of a man shooting people by the swimming pool at around 6 p.m., Chief Shelley Zimmerman said at a news conference.

Four black women, two black men, and one Hispanic man were taken to hospitals with gunshot wounds, Zimmerman said. One of the women later died.

Several victims were in surgery late Sunday and others were still critical late Sunday, Zimmerman said.

One man was taken to the hospital after he broke his arm while fleeing.

“This is truly a horrific act of violence that took place here today,” San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer said at a news conference. “Our entire city, all of our thoughts and prayers, all San Diegans’ thoughts and prayers, are with the victims and their families tonight.”

A police helicopter arrived to the scene first and the pilot reported seeing multiple victims and that the suspect, Peter Selis, was still in the pool area and appeared to be reloading.

Three officers on the ground shot the suspect after he pointed a large-caliber hand gun at them, Zimmerman said.

Police believe that Selis lived in the complex but have not discovered a motive.

One of the partygoers is believed to live at the same complex, Zimmerman said.</s>Sign up for one of our email newsletters.

SAN DIEGO -- Police shot and killed a 49-year-old man suspected of shooting seven people Sunday at a birthday pool party in an apartment complex near the University of California, San Diego, authorities said.

Authorities said the suspect, a white man identified as Peter Selis, shot four black women, two black men and one Latino man, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

Rikky Galiendes, 27, heard gunshots around 6 p.m. and went to look outside his sixth-story apartment when he spotted a man bleeding and running near the pool below. Galiendes told The Associated Press that he called out to ask if the man needed help when his roommate grabbed him, yanked him down and then pointed toward a man sitting in a chair with a gun.

“When we looked over the balcony, he was just sitting down with a gun on his lap,” Galiendes said. “He was calm, you know. I mean from my perspective, the guy was ready to do whatever he was going to do. He shot at people having a good time and having a party.”

Galiendes and his roommate ran back inside and called police. They stayed indoors until neighbors yelled that it was safe to come out. Galiendes said it was a horrifying scene.

“As soon as I heard the gunshots I had goosebumps and the whole thing was really emotionally draining - seeing blood everywhere, seeing bodies on the ground, hoping they survived, seeing bloody footsteps you know of people who ran away. There was just so much blood. It was so surreal.”

Galiendes, a full-time communications student at the University of California San Diego, said he has lived in the complex since September.

“It was chilling,” he said. “La Jolla is known to be really safe and this is a family neighborhood.”

One woman who was shot died, several victims were in surgery and others were still critical late Sunday, Chief Shelley Zimmerman said at a news conference. An additional man was taken to the hospital after he broke his arm while fleeing.

“This is truly a horrific act of violence that took place here today,” San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer said at a news conference. “Our entire city, all of our thoughts and prayers, all San Diegans' thoughts and prayers, are with the victims and their families tonight.”

A police helicopter arrived to the scene first and the pilot reported seeing multiple victims on the ground and that the suspect, Selis, was still in the pool area and appeared to be reloading.

Three officers on the ground shot the suspect after he pointed a large-caliber hand gun at them, Zimmerman said.

Police believe that Selis lived in the complex but have not discovered a motive.

One of the partygoers is also believed to live at the complex, Zimmerman said.</s>A woman has died and six others are critical after a pool party shooting rampage in San Diego, California, police said.

The man opened fire beside a pool at an apartment complex while holding a beer in his other hand, police said.

The man was shot and killed by police.

San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerma said the gunman was killed after pointing his weapon at police, who had responded to reports of shots being fired in the wealthy enclave of La Jolla just after 6pm local time.

Eight people were hit, Zimmerman said.

Several were in critical condition and being treated in hospitals in the area.

The gunman was not identified and no motive was disclosed

A witness, who identified himself only as a Crossroads resident named John, said he saw the suspect "sitting, drinking a beer in one hand with a gun out in the other" in the pool area of the apartment complex.

He told television station KFMB-TV he and his wife, a nurse, saw "three people laying on the ground shot" and that he also saw one wounded victim trying to crawl to another to give assistance.

He said two police officers who arrived on the scene confronted the gunman, who exchanged gunfire with police before he was shot.</s>One woman was killed and seven other people were injured in a shooting at the pool area of the La Jolla Crossroads apartment complex in California Sunday afternoon, the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) confirmed. The woman died of her injuries at the hospital.

SDPD Chief Shelley Zimmerman said three officers shot and killed the suspect after he pointed a gun at them. Police identified the suspect as 49-year-old Peter Selis.

"We know several of [the victims] are in critical condition," Zimmerman said at press conference Sunday evening.

Zimmerman said no motive for the shooting has been established. She also could not confirm all victims were adults nor if the suspect was a resident of the complex.

Police said the shooting took place shortly after 6 p.m. at the apartment complex, located on Judicial Drive, north of Nobel Drive and south of Miramar Road, west of Interstate 805.



“Somebody opened fire,” witness Lauren Seed, who was clearly shaken, told NBC 7. “Six or seven shots were fired at the pool. We got down, we closed the windows and then about a minute later, six or seven more shots, lots of screaming, lots of people screaming.”

Police initially advised people to shelter in place but later lifted the recommendation.

Seed said the screaming continued for around 10 minutes.



“From the screams, you could hear that somebody or multiple people were hit,” Seed said. She could see people on the balconies yelling and ducking for cover.

A second witness said the shooter looked like a white man in his 40s. He said the suspect was calm and had a smirk on his face during the shooting.



“I heard people screaming,” said a third witness, who lives at the apartment complex and did not wish to be identified.

The man said his fiancée is a nurse and they both ran down to see if they could help.

“If you look close enough you can see blood on the pavement,” he told NBC 7.

The man said when they heard more gunshots he and his fiancée ran into the clubhouse to hide.

“From the clubhouse there’s a view of the pool area where we could see the shooter sitting there with a beer in one hand and the gun in the other. He looked pretty relaxed,” he said.

The witness said officers killed the suspect after he fired at them.

A fourth witness told NBC 7 the suspect walked into the pool area where friends were celebrating one of the tenants' 50th birthday party.



The witness said that tenant walked up to the shooter, who seemed to be acting strangely. When the tenant invited the suspect to join the celebration, the suspect lifted up his shirt, shot the first person in the stomach and continued shooting people until he was out of bullets, the witness said.

One woman said she was able to get away from the shooter while he was reloading his gun.

Five victims were taken by San Diego Fire-Rescue (SDFD) paramedics to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla and at least one drove to Scripps Mercy Hospital, according to a spokesperson for the department.

A reunification center has been established at the northwest corner of Judicial Drive and Golden Haven, according to police.

Please refresh this page for updates on this story. Details may change as more information becomes available.</s>SAN DIEGO (CNN) — A gunman opened fire at a pool party in San Diego on Sunday evening, killing a woman and injuring six other people, police chief Shelley Zimmerman said.

The gunman, Peter Selis, 49, shot all seven at a pool area at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments around 6 p.m. before police officers fatally shot him, Zimmerman said. Some of the injured were in critical condition late Sunday night, she said.

The upscale complex is located near the University of California San Diego campus and the shooting rang out in what is normally a tranquil location.

Enzo Zhuang, a student at the school whose apartment overlooked the pool, had been playing video games in his apartment when he heard arguing and minutes later, noises that sounded like fireworks.

“I thought to myself, who would be lighting fireworks,” Zhuang said, adding,”it was always peaceful here before this happened.”

Another person was injured in the incident, breaking his arm while fleeing the gunfire, police said. Zimmerman initially said eight people had been shot.

The shooting victims were identified only as four black women, two black men and a Hispanic man. Their names were not immediately released.

It’s not clear whether Selis, who was a white man, knew any of the victims, police said. Detectives have not determined the motive for the shooting.

Some of the people at the pool were celebrating a birthday, police said. It’s not clear exactly how many people were in the pool area at the time of the shooting.

Police said they believe Selis and at least one of the party-goers lived at the apartment complex.

“This was a truly horrific and disturbing act. We pray for the victims and thank our first responders. Our city rejects this senseless violence,” San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer said at a news conference.

As police responded to 911 calls, officers flying above the complex in a helicopter could see the suspect in the pool area, and he appeared to be reloading a large-caliber handgun, authorities said.

Three officers on the ground confronted the shooter, who pointed his weapon at them, prompting an exchange of gunfire, police said.

In a span of about 30 minutes, apartment residents heard gunfire, sirens and the screams of those near the main pool, said resident Susan Berry, who was at the property but did not witness the shooting.

Video from the scene showed ambulances, yellow police tape and a heavy police presence. Berry said these things aren’t a common sight at the complex, which college students, physicians and military families, among others, call home.

“People are shocked because it’s an affluent neighborhood,” Berry said.
One person is killed and seven are injured in a shooting at a pool party in San Diego, California. The suspect is killed by police.