Shotgun shooting in Hillcrest last week is being investigated as a hate crime, police say

San Diego police are investigating a series of shotgun shootings in Hillcrest as a hate crime. Four incidents have occurred in the last week, including one at about 2 a.m. Sunday morning.

Police have said they are asking the public for help in finding the person responsible for a series of attacks in which perpetrators drove around in a light-colored minivan and shot their victims with “gel pellets,” said Police Captain Juan Sanchez.

Sanchez said the latest incident occurred around 2 a.m. Sunday near 10th and University Avenues. A detailed description of the suspects was not released, but police believe they were men.

At least four people were hit by shotgun pellets, but no one was seriously injured, police said. The investigation is ongoing.

On May 18, several people were shot with gel bullets fired from a car outside gay bars in Hillcrest early in the morning. According to police, someone drove up to four gay bars with LGBTQIA+ markings outside the door and opened fire.

Three people were hit, including a security guard who was hit in the eye and required minor surgery, police said at the time. The person then drove away.

Police asked anyone with information about the incidents to call the department's non-emergency number at (619) 531-2000.