SAN DIEGO — Three people have been arrested in connection with hate crimes in Hillcrest. This is a story that we have been following closely this year when several people were shot by pellet guns along University Avenue.
San Diego police say it's thanks to license plate readers that they were able to make these three arrests for the hate crimes that happened here in Hillcrest in September.
"This impacted not just the victims but our entire community and I think there's something to be said about that," said Eddie Reynoso, a victim of a pellet gun attack in May.
Reynoso was working at Rich's when he was shot in the eye by a pellet in a drive by shooting outside of the club. He says he now suffers from PTSD, had to quit his job and lost his home.
"My life changed and ultimately that cascade of trauma led to me being homeless. thankfully I was able to get some assistance from the gay and lesbian center," he said.
Now he feels a sense of relief learning about these latest arrests. In September the police chief said they would use license plate readers to help in the investigation.
"We do have those smart streetlights and license plate readers out there providing info to us," said Scott Wahl, San Diego Police Chief.
Police say the license plate readers help them identify the suspect vehicle. Thursday morning the department carried out search warrants and arrested three nineteen-year-olds. Police booked Anthony Lopez-Quiniones, Arturo Herrera-Sustaita and Angelo Nathaniel Aron. They've been booked into jail on multiple hate-crime related charges.
"These kids are nineteen they have their entire life ahead of them. There's some bittersweet grief because I don't know whether they're connected to me, to my case from May," he said.
Reynoso is now getting intensive outpatient therapy which he says he owes his life to. He says he's watched the community come together.
"I think our community is stronger because of it. I know it has been controversial to have smart streetlights but this has lead to the arrest of not just these three people but someone else who committed a hate crime in our neighborhood," he said.
Police arrested 19-year-old Hernan Hernandez in September following the pellet gun attacks. He faces felony charges.