Teen Accused in Hillcrest Pellet-Gun Shootings Pleads Not Guilty in Hate-Crime Case

A 19-year-old man accused of carrying out a string of pellet gun shootings in Hillcrest pleaded not guilty Friday to battery charges and hate crime allegations.

Hernan Garduno Hernandez is accused in three separate gel pellet shootings on six victims along University Avenue on the night of Sept. 7.

Deputy District Attorney Mei Owen said the attacks, believed to have targeted the LGBTQ+ community, happened within a half-hour period stretching from about 9:40 p.m. to 10:10 p.m. and that witnesses described a silver sedan driving past them when the shootings occurred.

The prosecutor said an investigation is ongoing regarding “who may have been involved besides the defendant.”

Earlier this week, San Diego police sought the public’s help in identifying the culprits.

The last shooting occurred at around 2 a.m. Sunday in the area of 10th and University avenues. The suspect vehicle in those incidents was described as a light-colored minivan.

Owen said the Saturday night attacks started around 9:40 p.m. when someone fired upon a group of friends standing outside the Burger Lounge restaurant on University. Three of the victims were struck in the arms and legs, she said.

About 15 minutes later, less than a block to the west, an employee of Urban Mo’s Bar & Grill was outside when he was hit by a gel pellet, according to the prosecutor.

Twelve minutes later, a couple walking out of Urban Mo’s was struck in their upper bodies, Owen said. The couple saw a car drive past and heard laughter coming from the vehicle, she said.

The prosecutor said witness descriptions helped identify the car involved and San Diego police learned it belonged to Hernandez. Investigators searched the car and found an “Xshot gel blaster” in the backseat, along with “hundreds” of gel pellets, according to Owen.

Hernandez was booked into custody on Wednesday, according to county jail records.

He faces up to six years and four months in prison if convicted of all counts and allegations.

Hernandez’s attorney, George Siddell, called for his client to be released on supervision, but Superior Court Judge John Pro left his bail at $30,000.

Siddell argued that after his arrest, Hernandez told police he was not aware of Hillcrest’s reputation as an LGBTQ+ friendly community.

“I don’t think he specifically intended to hurt anyone based on their sexual orientation,” Siddell said during Hernandez’s arraignment.

Owen argued that Hernandez has no ties to the neighborhood, but is a lifelong San Diego resident who is “aware of the various demographics of Hillcrest.”

A $2,000 reward also was offered this week for a different string of pellet gun shootings in Hillcrest that police say happened on May 18.

Those other incidents are being investigated as hate crimes, but police and prosecutors have not said whether Hernandez is believed to have any connection to those cases.