Suspect Arrested in Fatal Shooting of San Diego Man; Investigation Continues
On January 20, 2023, an incident took place in the heart of downtown San Diego when shots were fired in the area of 600 L Street. At 4:25 a.m., the San Diego Police Communications Center received a call about the incident and immediately dispatched officers from Central Division, according to a San Diego PD press release.
When the officers arrived at the scene, they found a man lying on the sidewalk on the 300 block of 7th Avenue, suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper body. Despite the life-saving measures performed by police officers and paramedics from San Diego Fire and Rescue, the man was declared dead at the scene.
Investigating officers discovered that the suspect had been in the company of a larger group of people when the shooting occurred. Some members of the group reportedly fled in a white Jeep SUV, while two individuals were seen fleeing on foot into a nearby multi-story parking garage. Police stopped a vehicle matching the description on 5th Avenue and detained two adult women and one adult man. Another man was also detained as possibly being associated with the suspect group. All were later released however, police said.
The San Diego Police Department’s Special Weapons and Tactics Unit (S.W.A.T.) was requested to assist in the investigation, due to the severity of the crime and involvement of firearms. After several hours, the parking garage was cleared and the suspects were found to no longer be in the area, and there was no threat to the public.
Homicide detectives were called to the scene to investigate. They discovered that the victim had apparently had a brief confrontation with the suspects and their group in the area of 600 L Street. During the altercation, the suspect allegedly drew a handgun and shot the victim. The suspect and his group then fled the area immediately after the shooting.
The detectives soon identified a suspect, Jaelen Dower, who was arrested on January 28, 2023, on Broadway in San Diego. Dower, 20, was booked into San Diego County Jail for one count of assault with a deadly weapon involving a firearm and other firearms-related charges. The investigation is ongoing, and detectives are working hard to bring the remaining suspects to justice.
The victim was identified as John Reed, 29, of San Diego.
The San Diego Police Department is encouraging anyone with information about this tragic incident to come forward and assist the investigation. The Homicide Unit can be reached at (619) 531-2293, and Crime Stoppers can be reached at (888) 580-8477.
