Reward offered to victims of pellet gun attacks at Hillcrest and North Park gay bars

Authorities reached out to the public Tuesday for help identifying the suspect or suspects who fired a pellet gun at nighttime entertainment venues in Hillcrest and North Park last spring, injuring one person in what is being investigated as a hate crime.

According to the San Diego Police Department, the road rage attacks took place in the early morning hours of May 18, primarily targeting gay bars.

The shooting, involving a frozen pellet gun, was carried out by one or more occupants of a recent-model black sedan passing the following businesses:

—The railroad at the corner of Fifth and Robinson avenues, where one of the projectiles struck a security guard in the arm;

— Number One Fifth Avenue;

— Rich’s on University Avenue, where three people were struck, including an employee who required minor surgery for a resulting eye injury; and

— Pecs Bar, also on University Avenue.

Additionally, a man was targeted by gel tablets while walking with his wife in the Old Town – an attack that does not appear to have been motivated by hate, police said.

Crime Stoppers of San Diego County, in partnership with the San Diego LGBTQ+ Historic Task Force and the Hate Crime Fund, is offering a $2,000 reward to anyone with information leading to an arrest in this case. Tipsters are asked to contact Crime Stoppers — anonymously, if they wish — at 888-580-8477 or sdcrimestoppers.org.