Authorities search for freeway shooting suspect

Authorities on Tuesday were searching for a “person of interest” believed to be armed and dangerous in connection with an apparent shooting spree on two San Diego freeways that left one motorist wounded.

Four shootings on Interstate 805 and Interstate 5 were reported within about 20 minutes late Monday morning. According to the California Highway Patrol, the shots were fired from a white 2006 Chevy Malibu registered to Enrique Ayon of Lancaster in northern Los Angeles County.

The 24-year-old Ayon —described as Latino, 5 feet 8 and 190 pounds — was being sought as a person of interest, according to the CHP, which described him as armed and dangerous.

A description of Ayon’s car and its license plate, 5POM917, were posted on electronic signs on major freeways early Tuesday.

San Diego police Lt. Darryl Hoover said the Malibu, carrying at least two men, had been involved in a hit-and-run collision on East San Ysidro Boulevard shortly before the shooting spree began about 10:30 a.m. on northbound Interstate 805, near East Plaza Boulevard in National City. At least one bullet hit a car in that assault, though no one was hurt.

A short time later, a shooting on Interstate 805 at Mesa College Drive wounded a 26-year-old man, Hoover said. Medics took him to a hospital for treatment of a non-life-threatening calf wound.

Within the next 15 or so minutes, gunfire again erupted on Interstate 805 near state Route 163, where a CHP officer was assisting a motorist, and on northbound Interstate 5 in the area of Del Mar Heights Road, according to Hoover. An ambulance apparently was targeted in the latter shooting, he said.

No one was injured in those attacks.

Some Ramona commuters returning home from work Monday afternoon were inconvenienced with all northbound Interstate 5 and 805 traffic at the merge was detoured to the state Route 56 (SR-56) bypass lanes due to police activity

“At this time, we have no information about any words being exchanged,’” Hoover said. “As we know at this time, it’s just a stranger-on-stranger (crime).”