San Diego Police Department is investigating a deadly shooting early Monday morning in Pacific Beach.
The incident occurred around 2 a.m. near Mission Boulevard and Garnet Avenue, near Crystal Pier. According to police, the shooting happened near the Paradise Cove Clothing Store and 710 Beach Club.
According to detectives, workers and customers in the area heard multiple gunshots and located an injured man, later identified by police as 31-year-old Luis Alberto Quiroz-Arreola.
Quiroz-Arreola, who was an unarmed security guard working at Crystal Pier, was taken to a hospital, where he later died.
Julie Neal, co-owner of the Crystal Pier Hotel & Cottages, confirmed Quiroz-Arreola was working for them when he was killed. Neal said he had been working there for six months, adding that Quiroz-Arreola was a great person who was loved and respected by hotel guests.
"They're not meant to be put in harm's way. They're just patrolling to, you know, kind of be a distraction," Neal said.
Neal described the Quiroz-Arreola's relationship with guests and staff at the property.
"He loved talking to the guests. We just talked to him last night, briefly, you know, good night, have a good night. I know a lot of our young guys who work here; they like to fish at night sometimes, and they would talk to him. So they're pretty shook up," Neal said.
ABC 10News spoke with Neal a month ago about her concerns with crime around Crystal Pier. Following the deadly shooting, she says the community is coming together.
"When something happens, everybody's looking at their ring cameras and everything to see if someone basically saw this or that. So we pretty much have a huge watch group down here," Neal said.
Following the shooting, Neal says the hotel will have to make changes about where its security guards are positioned.
"I don't think we can even have a guard out here anymore. I think that our guards just need to stay behind the gate and, you know, if something happens to the property or anything, I don't feel comfortable having anyone out here," Neal said.
Some of the people in the area reportedly attempted to render aid to the victim, while others tried to chase after the suspect.
Police continue to search for a suspect in the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to contact the SDPD's Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
