The alleged gunman in four freeway shootings that started on Interstate 805 in National City remains behind bars on $2 million bail and has been charged with attempted murder.
Enrique Ayon, 24, of Lancaster, has an Oct. 20 preliminary hearing scheduled in San Diego Superior Court. He pleaded not guilty to eight charges Oct. 6, and is the only suspect in the Oct. 3 shootings.
He is charged with two counts of attempted murder, four counts of shooting at an occupied vehicle, hit and run, and felony vandalism.
There is no known motive and the firearm has not been recovered.
On Oct. 3 the driver of a white Chevrolet Malibu crashed through a gate arm of a San Ysidro parking lot without paying for parking. The first shooting occurred minutes later on Interstate 805 south of Plaza Boulevard in National City.
A bullet struck a black Volvo that was driven by a 37-year-old Paradise Hills man who was not injured. Moments later, a 26-year-old motorist was shot in the thigh while driving north on Interstate 805 near Mesa College Drive.
The wounded motorist was taken to the hospital and later released. The third shooting was heard by two California Highway Patrol officers on Interstate 805 near state Route 63, but no damage or injures were reported.
Two rounds struck an ambulance on Interstate 5, but no one was hurt in that fourth shooting. Ayon was arrested the next day by CHP officers after someone recognized the car description and license plate that was posted on freeway signs.
Deputy District Attorney Christopher Moon said the “terrifying shooting spree” showed “complete disregard for human life.”
Public defender Sal Tarantino told Judge David Szumowski his client had no prior record and asked for “reasonable bail.”
Moon said Ayon was the registered owner of the Malibu and authorities don’t know why he was in South Bay and San Diego.
Ayon remains in the central jail.
