Transgender Patrons Shaken After Pellet Gun Attack Outside San Diego Bar
Two transgender patrons were hurt when a passing vehicle opened fire with pellet rounds outside the bar.
Featured image by Chris Jongkind via Getty Images
A night out at the SRO Lounge in San Diego’s Bankers Hill neighbourhood turned frightening early Saturday when someone fired pellet rounds at a small group of transgender patrons gathered outside the bar. Two people were injured, and many more were left rattled by what witnesses believe was a targeted act of hate.
Bartender Pedro Lomeli was on shift around 1 am when the sudden pops cut through the music and conversation.
“Loud plops. Pop, pop, pop,” Lomeli told local ABC station 10 News. “I heard that and saw everyone scramble outside.”
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He rushed out to where about a dozen people had been standing moments earlier. What he saw first was a patron clutching her hand.
“First thing I see when I run outside is this girl holding her hand, and she’s bleeding a lot,” Lomeli said.
He helped her wrap the wound and said she seemed stunned not only by the pain but by the shock of being attacked so suddenly.
“I know she’s a vet. She said she hasn’t felt like this since she was overseas. She was shaken,” he said.
Another victim made it back inside the bar before realizing the extent of her injury.
“Inside, she took her hand off, and she had a big welt on her shoulder,” Lomeli said.
Related: 4 San Diego LGBT Bars Shot At With Pellet Gun
Witnesses told him they saw an older black Ford F-150 speed away. Lomeli said he counted roughly five to ten rounds fired from what sounded like a pellet or BB-type weapon. He said both victims are members of the transgender community, which deepened his worry about motive.
“I think it’s hate. It’s unfortunate, as we are just regular people going about our lives. It’s just really sad,” he said.
According to the San Diego Police, another similar shooting was reported the same night in the 1000 block of University Avenue in Hillcrest. Both incidents involved BB-type projectiles shot from a moving vehicle. The department said only minor injuries were reported, but investigators are looking into possible connections between the new cases and a string of pellet gun attacks that targeted LGBT bars in Hillcrest last year.
Those earlier incidents led to guilty pleas from four nineteen-year-old men who were charged with assault.
Police urged anyone with information, including footage or details about a similar vehicle in the area, to come forward. In a statement, the department said it takes all acts of violence seriously and is working to gather more information.
