Suspect arrested, victim identified in fatal Ocean Beach shooting
Authorities have arrested a 19-year-old man in the death of a 58-year-old man who was shot last week on the sand in Ocean Beach, police said Sept. 21.
Thurs Loo John of San Diego was booked into jail Sept. 20 on suspicion of murder, homicide Lt. Andra Brown said.
Brown also released the name of the victim, James Phillip Chase. She said he did not have a permanent residence but was known to frequent the Ocean Beach area.
A man was shot to death early Sept. 15 in Ocean Beach, police said.
Detectives investigating the case identified John as a suspect, Brown said, and patrol officers were told to be on the lookout for him.
They came across him Sept. 19 in City Heights. Brown said John was in a fight involving four or five people at University Avenue and Reno Drive and that a passing police officer jumped in to stop the brawl.
John was injured in the melee and was hospitalized, Brown said.
Homicide detectives were notified. After John was treated for his injuries and released from the hospital, he was booked into San Diego County Jail.
The shooting happened just after 1 a.m. Sept. 15. Brown said several people called 911 to report that a man had been shot on the sand near lifeguard Tower 2, by Abbott Street and Santa Monica Avenue.
Officers arrived to find Chase unconscious with a gunshot wound to his upper torso. They began lifesaving measures, but Chase died before he could be taken to a hospital.
Online jail records indicate John is being held without bail and that his arraignment is set for Friday, Sept. 25.
