Reward offered for information on trolley shooting

A $10,000 reward was offered today for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a thief who shot a Metropolitan Transit System security officer and stole his gun at an East County rail depot.

The unidentified assailant opened fire on the victim at Grossmont Center Trolley Station about 10:15 p.m. Saturday.

When the wounded officer fell to the ground, the gunman took his pistol and two ammunition clips from his belt and shot him again, according to La Mesa police Lt. David Bond. The attacker then ran up a set of stairs and fled into a nearby shopping mall.

The victim, whose name has not been released, was treated at a hospital and released the following day. He is recovering at his home, MTS spokeswoman Judy Leitner said.

The assailant was described as a thin, roughly 5-foot-11-inch black man in his 20s. At the time of the shooting, he was wearing dark clothing and black gloves, and had a blue duffel bag strapped across his chest.

The transit agency increased security aboard its vehicles and at its stations in the aftermath of the shooting.

Authorities asked anyone with information about the shooting to call San Diego County Crime Stoppers, which is offering $1,000 for information leading to an arrest in the case. The agency can be reached at (888) 580-8477.

The remainder of the five-figure reward was put up by Metropolitan Transit System; Heritage Security, the company that provides guards for the transportation agency’s facilities; and an anonymous donor, Leitner said.

Tags: Grossmont Center Trolley Station, San Diego County Crime Stoppers, San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, San Diego trolley shooting, SDNN, Trolley shooting

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