ESCONDIDO: Two residents killed by gunfire Saturday in unrelated incidents
By North County Times | ∞
ESCONDIDO ---- In a day of violence Saturday, two people were gunned down in two different residential Escondido neighborhoods.
In the first case, a 15-year-old boy was walking with a group of friends toward his West Escondido home shortly after midnight when he was fatally shot by other youths in a car, police said.
Late Saturday afternoon, a man in his 40s was outside a central Escondido apartment when he was killed by a single gunshot, possibly fired from a passing vehicle, police said.
Detectives worked overtime Saturday investigating the two cases, which appeared unrelated, police said.
Eduardo Aranda, a 15-year-old whose family said he'd lived in Escondido all his life, was found dead by police on the corner of Spruce Street and Seventh Avenue about 12:30 a.m. Saturday, said Escondido police spokesman Lt. Bob Benton.
Witnesses told police that Aranda was walking north on Spruce with several friends when a small red car drove up next to the victim and gunshots were heard.
When police arrived, they found Aranda not breathing and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but to no effect, Benton said.
Two teenage suspects in the shooting were in custody Saturday afternoon and more than one suspect was still at large, Benton said. Police said they were unsure if the shooting was gang-related.
The boy's mother, Maria Salazar, an employee of Villa del Rey retirement home on Washington Avenue, said her son was a normal, happy teenager who had been returning from a fast-food run when he was shot a few blocks from home. She said he'd had recent troubles with the law, but nothing violent that would have earned him enemies.
Salazar's cousin, Susy Gallegos, who said she was like an aunt to the teen everyone called "Eddie," said she guessed some unthinking kids shot Eddie to look tough.
"Imagine, that age with a gun; it's really dumb," said the woman who works as a medical assistant in Poway. "Hopefully they're watching right now, and they see how many people they hurt."
Flowers, candles and posters full of wishes addressed to the dead teen marked the spot where he fell. Throughout the afternoon, dozens of little kids, teenagers and adults from the neighborhood of small, family homes stopped to talk and reflect. Many said they didn't know Aranda but wanted to show their sympathy for the family. Some people identified themselves as friends or cousins. Most had moist eyes.
On Saturday, Salazar said she could hardly believe she wouldn't see her son again.
"There are times when I feel it's not true, because I haven't seen him yet," she said, referring to the fact that she had not seen her son's body. "There times when I know it is true and I lose it. But I have two other kids I have to stay strong for."
Her 11-year-old son cried when she told him the news, she said. Her 3-year-old daughter did not fully understand.
Anyone wishing to donate money towards the dead teen's services may contribute to the Eduardo Aranda Memorial Fund at Wells Fargo Bank, Gallegos said.
As police investigated the Aranda shooting, officers arrived at an alley between Third and Second avenues at Ash Street about 6:30 p.m. to investigate reports of a shot fired. There, they found a man in his 40s lying lifeless with a single gunshot wound, Lt. Craig Carter said.
As in the previous shooting, attempts to revive the man were unsuccessful.
More than a dozen investigators arrived to interview the throng of people who had been enjoying the sunny early evening when the shooting occurred, Carter said.
Initial reports indicated someone had fired from a truck as the man, who lived in the area, stood with friends. Carter said police did not believe the shooting was gang-related and that police anticipated releasing more information after they reinterviewed several witnesses at the station Saturday night.
The dead man's name was not released Saturday.
Contact staff writer Sarah Gordon at (760) 740-3517 or sgordon@nctimes.com.
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Yo wrote on Jun 29, 2008 12:34 AM:RIP. What a crazy night. I arrived home from work around midnight, and half an hour later I heard the ghetto bird circling Orange Glen High School. I stepped outside and the helicopter had its spotlight pointed at the ground while its PA said "We are looking for 4 shooting suspects." I surmise the COPs were looking for that little red car, or maybe this incident was unrelated...In any case, does anyone have any solutions on reducing the number of shootings in Escondido? I'm getting tired of it and moving away isn't the solution.
escondido resident wrote on Jun 29, 2008 12:46 AM:escondido is a very scary place to live, I live here but thinking of moving out of here a that is sad because after 30 years living in escondido,I don't feel safe anymore.
I sincerly wish the EPD do something about Escondido soon....
Amazing wrote on Jun 29, 2008 9:36 AM:I sure enjoy how everything is always the police's fault. I have an idea. Parents should start being parents instead of trying to be their kid's best buddy. The gang problem is a direct result of uninvolved and irresposible PARENTING!
Nick wrote on Jun 29, 2008 10:02 AM:Hurry up and build that enourmous hotel so all of this will go away!
How big is EPD wrote on Jun 29, 2008 11:14 AM:Has anyone ever asked how big the EPD actually is and if it is in fact large enough to patrol the city? I will guarantee you that the size of the police department has not grown much in decades, yet the city's population has grown tremendously. How can you expect an overtaxed police department to handle all of the growing crime and violence? Especially when the city council is cutting it back even further. You can't get blood from a stone my friends.
Amazing nailed it...... wrote on Jun 29, 2008 12:07 PM:parents, if you don't want your kids shot, then startr being PARENTS!!
consider wrote on Jun 29, 2008 3:11 PM:it's men shooting men. there is a problem with manhood in fatherless america. men need to take responsibility for thier choices.
maestro wrote on Jun 29, 2008 3:50 PM:The responsibility for our growing gang problem lies directly on the shoulders of the the parent(s) who are UNWILLING to provide boundaries for their children. Parenting requires a lot of work and self sacrifice so give up your tv shows and get involved with your kids. Find out who they hang out with, give them firm curfew times, and don't waiver.
Way to go Nick wrote on Jun 29, 2008 9:33 PM:Whomever Nick is has it RIGHT on the target. Instead of putting its money down the drain with the downtown hotel and the worthless millions of dollars it pumps into the white elephant arts center every year, this city should be taking care of more important things. Two murders in the same day? That is outrageous. I think the city council should be invited to be pallbearers at these funerals.
Before the gun nuts wrote on Jun 30, 2008 6:39 AM:come out of the woodwork, I carry a weapon and yes with no permit, as you will wait for years before getting a respondence on your permit to carry concealed weapon. In that time I was illegal, I stopped a rape, and a child abuduction and because I am still waiting for my permit, I had to let these two gentlemen walk back into society. No shots fired! Now most of you beilieve in law enforcement officers to protect you, let me ask all of you, do you see the police prior to the crime or do you see the police taking a report after the crime. It is the responsibilty of all citizens to protect themselves and their families.
Billy wrote on Jun 30, 2008 6:53 AM:Part of the answer is more police patrolling, of course. But that would cost a lot of money. We don't have the money for the police or the patrol cars. Hey, wait a minute! Perhaps we could stop letting the policemen take their cars home and use them at least one other shift in a day. And then , If the patrolling cuts down on crime that would free up a few detectives to go back into uniform, or even patrol as under cover policemen in unmarked cars that have taken away from city official.
I want to see a list of the cars that are provided to the city officials, those that are in the car pool, that are provided to city employees and how often.
OK that's it. Put your heads together and cut the cost and provide patrol cars and the police necessary for us to have a safe city. After you have accomplished that, then you can think about Art Centers and big Hotels that don't pay there way.
Escondido Parent wrote on Jun 30, 2008 8:16 AM:Why was this child out past the city curfew? Who lets their kids go to a fast food resturant that late at night? I have two teenagers (14 &16) and both have an 11:00 curfew and are NEVER allowed to walk anywhere at night, I'll drive them before I would let them walk. I wish parents would stop letting their children just run the streets. Be involved, be a parent. Know their friends, their friends parents, set boundaries. This should not have happened.
Dennis wrote on Jul 6, 2008 12:36 PM:To all Escondido Parents, not beeing smart here but the law ia 10:00 pm curfew its a good time beeing or going home from the movies is not a good reason for becomming a victim.
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