San Diego police investigating three shootings early Sunday; one victim has life-threatening injuries

San Diego police are investigating three shootings that occurred within a one-hour period early Sunday, with one victim suffering life-threatening injuries.

The first shooting was reported around 2:50 a.m. at the intersection of Island Avenue and First Avenue in a downtown parking lot. The victim, a man believed to be between 20 and 30 years old, was found suffering from gunshot wounds to his back and transported to a hospital.

Police said his injuries were thought to be life-threatening.

Investigators found bullet casings from three different caliber guns at the scene, said police Officer Sarah Foster.

A little more than a half-hour later, officers were called to an apartment complex near the intersection of Golfcrest and Jackson drives in San Carlos where they found a 20-year-old man suffering from gunshot wounds to his neck and abdomen. The victim told police he had been shot as he was driving but gave officers no further information. He was transported to a hospital to be treated for injuries not considered life threatening.

Fox 5 San Diego reported that the second victim may have been injured during the earlier downtown shooting. Officer John Buttle said the shooting is under investigation and that a crime scene was not found in the San Carlos area.

The third incident was reported 25 minutes later on Polk Avenue near 46th Street in City Heights. That’s where police found a 46-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the leg. He was transported to the hospital to be treated.

The shootings come amidst a spike in violence in San Diego. On Wednesday, San Diego police Chief David Nisleit called the surge “disturbing” in an interview with the Union-Tribune, saying that “whether it’s gang violence or family violence, people are willing to go from zero to a hundred for no darn reason.”

Nine of San Diego’s 28 homicides in 2021 have occurred over the last 17 days.

Anyone with information related to the shootings is asked to call the San Diego Police Department or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.