Suspect in Hillcrest pellet gun shootings arrested, pleads not guilty

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — One of the suspects in a string of pellet gun shootings through Hillcrest earlier this month that authorities were investigating as a hate crime was arrested Wednesday afternoon.

Hernan Garduno Hernandez, 19, pleaded not guilty in court on Friday to a slew of felony charges for his alleged involvement in the pellet gun attacks, which occurred between Sept. 2 and Sept. 9 along University Avenue — one of Hillcrest’s main arteries.

According to deputy district attorney Mei Owen, Hernandez was the registered owner of a vehicle used on Saturday, Sept. 7 and is believed to have been present for the three assaults that day, leaving six people with minor injuries.

In the course of the investigation into the incidents, a gel blaster device and hundreds of pellets were recovered by San Diego police from inside his vehicle, described as a silver sedan, Owens added.

The assaults were apart of the second series of pellet gun shootings in Hillcrest this year, primarily targeting areas surrounding the neighborhood’s LGBTQ+ bars and along University Avenue.

The first string of pellet gun shootings in the early hours of May 18 hit four bars — Rich’s night club, The Rail, Pecs Bar and Number One Fifth Avenue. A number of people were injured in the incident, including at least one who required minor surgery afterwards.

In the wake of the shooting, San Diego police shifted a number of unused “smart streetlights” to the neighborhood in a controversial move that bypassed the typical approval process, which involves the city council and an independent oversight body, for their use.

Authorities have not determined if the May and September attacks are related, although both were described as drive-by shootings involving multiple suspects.

Hernandez faces six charges of assault in connection to the Sept. 7 shootings with the additional allegation that the crimes were committed due to perceptions of the victims’ sexual orientation.

In the arraignment Friday, Hernandez’s defense attorney pushed back against the hate-crime modification for the charges against the 19-year-old, saying he has no connection to Hillcrest and did not know that it was a historically LGBTQ+ neighborhood.

Bail was set for Hernandez at $30,000, although the judge determined during the hearing that he should remain in custody pending trial. He is set to appear in court again on Monday, Sept. 23 for a readiness conference, with a preliminary hearing set for Sept. 26.

An investigation into the remaining pellet gun shootings in both May and September remains ongoing.

Descriptions of the outstanding suspects SDPD is looking for in each incident have not been provided. However, the suspect vehicle in the May shootings was described by police as a newer, black sedan.

Earlier this week, SDPD announced a $2,000 reward for anyone with information that leads to an arrest in the May assaults.

Those with information are asked to contact SDPD’s Western Division at 619-692-4805 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

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