Innocent Bystander Shot Near Gillespie Field, Suspect at Large

A woman who happened upon an argument outside a liquor store in a neighborhood just east of Gillespie Field Thursday was wounded when the quarrel erupted in gunfire.

The shooting occurred shortly after 5 p.m. in a parking lot on East Bradley Avenue in the unincorporated Bostonia area, near El Cajon, according to sheriff's officials. Deputies from the Santee Sheriff's Station responded to the scene.

The victim, described as a bystander in her 20s who was not involved in the dispute, was taken to Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego for treatment a gunshot wound to the shoulder, described as a non-life threatening wound, sheriff's Lt. Hank Turner said. 

The SUV, of which the victim was a passenger, also had three young children inside and one of the children was struck in the arm with a piece of shattered glass that left a small abrasion, according to authorities.

Deputies blocked off traffic lanes around the site of the shooting during the investigation.

The suspect, described to Sheriff's deputies as a male in his late teens or early 20s who was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black shorts, was in an argument with two other males in their early twenties in the parking lot, according to a Sheriff's Department press release. 

The suspect walked across Bradley Avenue and began firing a semi-automatic handgun in the direction of the other two males. At the same time a white SUV was pulling into the parking lot when the female passenger was struck in the shoulder by a bullet. 

The suspect then fled the area on foot. At this time the suspect is still outstanding. 

The Sheriff's Dept. said witnesses to the event were helpful and the case is being investigated by detectives.

-City News Service contributed to this report