SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – A 19-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges related to a series of drive-by gel pellet shootings in Hillcrest earlier this month, which investigators are calling hate crimes targeting the LGBTQ+ community, the San Diego Police Department said Friday.
The suspect, identified as Hernan Garduno Hernandez, faces multiple charges stemming from three separate attacks on Sept. 7. Jail records obtained by ABC 10News show Hernandez was arrested on Wednesday and booked into Central Jail.
Prosecutors say Hernandez fired gel pellets at six victims during three attacks outside the Burger Lounge in Hillcrest at 7 p.m., 9 p.m., and 10:07 p.m. Hundreds of gel pellets were found inside a silver sedan that matched the description provided by witnesses.
Hernandez, who has no prior criminal history, admitted that the car involved in the attacks was his and that he was inside the vehicle.
However, his defense claims he was unaware of Hillcrest’s LGBTQ+ community and has no ties to the area beyond being there that night. The District Attorney's Office pushed back on this during the arraignment, saying Hernandez is a lifelong San Diego County resident, so he'd be aware of the area's demographics.
Earlier this month, police responded to multiple reports of people struck by gel pellets in the Hillcrest neighborhood. Police said witnesses saw the suspected shooter(s) flee the area in a minivan following the attacks. In May, several separate gel pellet shootings took place in the neighborhood, with at least three happening outside of LGBTQ+ nightclubs.
During his arraignment, Hernandez’s request for release was denied, and his bail was set at $30,000. He is scheduled for a readiness hearing on Monday, Sept. 23, with a preliminary hearing on Thursday, Sept. 26.
