Gang Gunfire Outside Club Leaves 1 Dead, 2 Wounded

A La Mesa teen-ager was killed and two other youths were wounded early Saturday when rival gangs exchanged as many as 100 gunshots outside a Spring Valley dance club, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said.

The fatal shooting occurred at 1:35 a.m. as about 200 people, including numerous reputed gang members, milled around outside the Club Tronix shortly after it closed, a sheriff’s spokesman said.

Earlier, some patrons had displayed gang signs inside the club, despite warnings from the management not to do so, the spokesman said. The club, situated in the 9600 block of Campo Road, offers electronic music but serves no alcohol.

Shortly before the shooting began, a fight broke out between two females, causing many in the crowd to become agitated. It was unclear, however, whether that fight helped precipitate the gunfire that began minutes later in the club’s west parking lot, the spokesman said.

Witnesses told sheriff’s deputies that rival gang members, identified only as males in their 20s, fired up to 100 shots from several weapons, sending many in the panicked crowd scurrying for cover.

Three people were struck during the gunfire, including an 18-year-old Ethiopian who died at the scene, the sheriff’s spokesman said. The victim was identified by the San Diego County medical examiner’s office as Theodros Zewdalem, a security officer who lived in the 5700 block of Jackson Drive.

Two other males, a 17-year-old from Lemon Grove and an 18-year old San Diegan, were wounded in the back and were taken to Sharp Memorial Hospital. The names and conditions of the two youths were not available Saturday, though the sheriff’s spokesman said both were expected to recover.

As of late Saturday, the cause of the gun battle was unknown, and sheriff’s homicide officers said that their review was continuing.