Shot in the Dark

Shortly before 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning, September 8, shots rang out at the Imperial Sands Mobile Home Park, just east of Imperial Beach. Lupe F., who has lived in the park for 30 years, was getting ready for work and heard some loud bangs but wasn’t concerned until she “saw more cops than I’ve ever seen in my life” descend on her neighbor’s green trailer in the 1800 block of Cathy Street.

Her neighbor’s son and friend had returned home, and, according to SDPD Lt. Ernest Herbert, as the friend exited the vehicle, “Two male Hispanics came out of the shadows of the buildings and both shot the victim.”

A neighbor reported hearing five gunshots and then the sounds of a car “peeling out,” possibly a red Honda that was seen by another resident prowling the small streets before the incident. “Everybody here knows each other,” he said.

The victim, possibly in his 30s and not a resident of the park, died at the scene, and neighbors said their children had to walk by the body on their way to the bus stop.

Lydia, a 25-year resident of the park, said, “I told my daughter’s teacher that she and many of the park’s children had seen the body, and they may need some extra attention.” Lydia also questioned the officers on why the body wasn’t covered. She was told the area was secured as well as possible. Another neighbor remarked, “This isn’t the best neighborhood, but somebody getting shot hits too close to home.”