SAN DIEGO — Police are searching for a suspect that shot and seriously injured a man early Monday morning during a Halloween party in Pacific Beach.
San Diego police say around 3:45 a.m. officers responded to the Ava apartments in the 3800 block of Jewell Street and found a 21-year-old man who had been shot in the neck. The man was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries but is expected to survive.
"This violence hits a whole new level and that is something we don't tolerate and give every effort to find this person," said Captain Scott Wahl, San Diego Police Department.
Officers detained and questioned at least a dozen people, most of them being minors. Despite 30-40 people at the party police say no one is talking. Parents were called to pick up their underage kids.
"I'm kind of speechless I didn't think anything like that would happen here," said Amber Niess.
But Niess' neighbors told News 8 they are all too familiar with the rowdy neighbors who hosted the party.
"I've called management many times about noise complaints," said a neighbor who did not want to be identified.
Neighbors said the young tenants are connected to other fights on the property there, parties until sunrise and someone even pulled a knife during one of the gatherings.
"Ava is aware. The police have been out here weekly, daily," said a neighbor.
Police said they have been called to the property in the past.
"This location has had prior calls for parties and loud noises. It's not uncommon in the beach area but we are working with management," said Wahl.
Frustrated neighbors believe it's the COVID moratorium on evictions that is keeping the troubled tenants from being kicked out.
"Ava has shared they are working on it but because of the COVID restrictions of evictions the process takes time," said a neighbor.
Ava did not return News 8's request for comment but neighbors hope they'll respond to their concerns soon.
"I said someone is going to be killed here. I told the office someone is going to be killed here," said another neighbor who didn't want to be identified.
Police are looking for a suspect described as a Black man in his twenties, about 5-feet-8-inches, last seen wearing a black beanie and a yellow jersey.
If you have any information you can submit a tip anonymously to Crime Stoppers here. An arrest could lead to a $1,000 reward.