Authorities Arrest Person Of Interest In San Diego Freeway Shootings

LAKE VIEW TERRACE (CBS/AP) — Authorities arrested a person of interest Tuesday morning in connection with freeway shootings along Southern California roadways.

KNX 1070's Tom Reopelle Reports

Enrique Ayon, 24, was arrested by the California Highway Patrol on the 210 Freeway in Lake View Terrace around 10:10 a.m.

Authorities said he is a person of interest in a series of freeway shootings in San Diego County Monday.

A 26-year-old man was hit about 10:45 a.m. Monday on I-805 and was being treated at a hospital, San Diego Police Lt. Darryl Hoover told reporters. About 15 minutes later, shots were fired again along I-805 where a California Highway Patrol officer was assisting a motorist, and on northbound Interstate 5, where a bullet hit an ambulance on the fender. No one was injured in either of those incidents.

The assailant was driving a Chevrolet Malibu and was driving north on Interstate 5, connecting San Diego and Los Angeles, California Highway Patrol officer Larry Landeros said.

Authorities shut down a 3-mile section of I-805 for hours to comb the area for the suspect, casings and other evidence. It later reopened but officials then shut down a section of I-5 to search that area.

It was the second time this year a gunman has been reported shooting at cars traveling on a freeway in San Diego County. In April, a 21-year-old University of San Diego student was injured in the rib cage after a gunman fired at cars driving on another San Diego freeway.

Police arrested 58-year-old Stephen Dragasits, after examining DNA on bullet casings along the freeway. He has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and firearms charges. Police have not determined a motive.

Police said he is linked to shootings that struck two cars. No one else was injured.

Dragasits, of New York, was a former San Diego County worker and a Navy veteran, prosecutors said.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)