A gunman despondent over a recent breakup opened fire at a poolside birthday party and phoned his ex-girlfriend as he kept shooting strangers, killing one woman and wounding six other partygoers before he was killed by officers, police said Monday.
Peter Selis, 49, sat on a pool chair during most of the rampage, calmly shooting guests at the party with a .45-caliber handgun. According to the San Diego Police Department, the victims are three black women, two black men, one Hispanic man and one white woman.
San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman in a press conference Monday said there is zero information to indicate that race played a factor in the shooting.
"These victims were just in his vicinity when he committed this terrible tragedy," Zimmerman said. "What started as a celebration of a friend's birthday party turned into a tragedy of epic proportions."
Witnesses said Selis was wearing a black coat and sitting alone during the party for a man's 50th birthday Sunday at an apartment complex near the University of California, San Diego.
At one point the guest of honor invited the man to join the party. That's when Selis drew a handgun and shot the honoree in the torso, said Demetrius Griffin, a friend at the party.
"He didn't stand up. He sat the whole time. Even when he reloaded his magazine, he sat in his chair," said Griffin. "It was very eerie, to say the least. He didn't stand up. He didn't say anything. He just opened fire."
After shooting two people, Selis called his ex-girlfriend and said what he'd done and that police were there and then continued firing.
"It is apparent that Selis wanted his ex-girlfriend to listen in as he carried out his rampage," Zimmerman said.
Two victims remained in critical condition, but were expected to survive, Zimmerman said. Another man was taken to the hospital after he broke his arm running away.
Rikky Galiendes, 27, said he heard between eight to 10 gunshots around 6 p.m. and looked outside his sixth-story apartment in University City, a diverse neighborhood near the campus. He spotted a man bleeding and running near the pool below.
Galiendes said he called out to ask if the man needed help when his roommate grabbed him, yanked him down and pointed toward a man sitting in a chair with a gun.
"When we looked over the balcony, he was just sitting down with a gun on his lap," Galiendes said. "He was calm, you know. I mean from my perspective, the guy was ready to do whatever he was going to do. He shot at people having a good time and having a party."
Galiendes and his roommate ran back inside and called police.
A police helicopter arrived first, and the pilot reported seeing multiple victims on the ground and that Selis appeared to be reloading in the pool area, the police chief said.
Three officers arrived and shot Selis after he pointed a large-caliber handgun at them, she said.
Selis and one of the partygoers lived at the complex in the diverse community north of downtown San Diego.
Selis, a father who worked as a mechanic at a Ford dealership, filed for federal bankruptcy protection in October 2015, listing $14,000 in assets and $108,000 in liabilities, according to court records.
"This is truly a horrific act of violence," San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer said at a news conference. "Our entire city, all of our thoughts and prayers, all San Diegans' thoughts and prayers, are with the victims and their families tonight."
Galiendes and his roommate stayed indoors until neighbors yelled that it was safe to come out. He said the scene was horrifying.
"As soon as I heard the gunshots, I had goosebumps and the whole thing was really emotionally draining — seeing blood everywhere, seeing bodies on the ground, hoping they survived, seeing bloody footsteps you know of people who ran away. There was just so much blood. It was so surreal."
Galiendes, a student at UC San Diego, said he has lived in the complex since September.
"It was chilling," he said. "La Jolla is known to be really safe, and this is a family neighborhood."
Police and city officials give more information about a poolside shooting. An afternoon rally for workers rights will take place this made a in downtown San Diego. This is KPBS Midday Edition. I am Maureen Cavanaugh it is Monday, May 1. Our top story on KPBS Midday Edition San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and police chief Shelley Zimmerman concluded a news conference about a half hour ago to give updated information about the shooting at a poolside party in University City last night. Police say seven victims were shot, one fatally 149-year-old Peter Seles opened fire on a group of people attending the party at the La Jolla crossroads complex. Police say Seles also opened fire on police and was shot and killed. Although the investigation is continuing they said there is no evidence that the shooting of the seven people of color was racially motivated by the white shooter. This is the motivation was a breakup with his girlfriend or is this morning's news conference. It is apparent that he wanted his ex-girlfriend to listen in as he carried out his rampage. The victims just happened to be present at the moment in time when he decided to carry out his spontaneous act of violence. There is zero information to indicate that race played a factor in this terrible crime. The victims were targeted for no other reason than there mere presence. Of course our Police Department and the truly quick actions absolutely. Further bloodshed. Susan Murphy visited the scene this morning. She joins us now. Thank you. Did you speak with anyone who witnessed the shooting. I spoke to people this morning. A large area had been cordoned off this morning so people were gathering at the pool just for support. They were very shaken there were a lot of tears there were grieving and trying to figure out all of this and make sense of how they will move on from here. I spoke to a woman who was actually in the swimming pool when the shooting happened. She said that she noticed when the man -- the shooter came into the pool area. You have to have a special key. He came and sat along the back gate of the pool. The party were most of the victims were was right across from them at the backside of the pool. She said he sat there for about a half hour drinking a beer and he seemed calm but all of a sudden out of the blue she saw him take a gun out of his pants or shorts and get up and just start shooting. She said the people that were in the pool were shaken and screaming not knowing what to do. They stayed in the pool until he ran out of ammo. At that point all of the people. They were too small children they got out of the pool and escaped but the people at the party were trapped at the back of the pool. There was not a gate for them to go out of so they were pushed down into this corner. She said she just watched them been shot.. There's kids toys sand buckets food drinks and everything kind of left. There is also blood and gore and you can just see this horrifying scene. Thank you so much that really sets the scene. Can you tell us if they told you anything about any tensions during this party or any sign that this could have ended this way. They were talking. They did not sense anything. The people that were partying were not being of noxious it was a happy and festive atmosphere. They were inviting everybody to participate in their celebration of this man's birthday. Another thing to note on the other side there is some parts of it that is a wall there are some see-through areas for kids are playing. There were a lot of children just on the other side who saw all of this happened. Are they getting canceled. One woman who is apparent his children go to the nearby school said they were bringing counselors to the school not -- to talk not just to the students but to the families. You cannot and see things because children have harder times than adults of I sense of all this. Did anybody say that they knew this shooter. Nobody seemed to recognize him. It's a very tight community. A lot of times it is the same crowd. It's just a family environment. Some people had brought their dinners out and were enjoying their time together. Nobody seems to recognize who this man was. That's why it was suspicious when he came in. They are just really shaken. The community is made up of all sorts of people. There are students and professionals. It's a very upscale place. I've been speaking with Susan Murphy. We will bring in more on this story through the day.
