A 45-year-old man suspected of firing some dozen rounds out the windows and door of his El Cajon apartment Saturday night was arrested in about an hour.

Police rushed to the Timber Apartment complex on Petree Street near Fletcher Parkway about 7:40 p.m. after a resident there heard gunshots coming from a neighboring apartment, police Lt. Rob Ransweiler said. While the caller was still on the phone, a disptcher could hear another gunshot.

Officers arrived and heard more gunfire, Ransweiler said. They began evacuating dozens of tenants from the complex, as well as from the adjacent Forest Park apartment complex. A reverse 911 call was used to inform residents who weren’t evacuated to stay inside and a SWAT team was called. Officers from five law enforcement agencies arrived to assist, and nearby roads were closed.

As police moved toward the apartment to evacuate a neighboring unit, the suspect, Samuel Herlevic, fired two rounds through his front door, Ransweiler said.


Then, about an hour after the shooting began and before officers tried contacting him, Herlevic walked out of the apartment. He didn’t get on the ground when officers told him to, and a police dog was used to subdue him, Ransweiler said. Herlevic was arrested on suspicion of shooting at an inhabited dwelling.

Police asked him if there was anyone else in his apartment, and decided to search the place with a robot after he gave officers “conflicting information,” the lieutenant said. Police detonated at least two flash-bangs during the search, a tactical measure to surprise and stun any possible additional assailants inside, but there were no other occupants.

Officers continued to investigate, and by 10 p.m. had begun escorting tenants back into their apartments so police could search for any potential victims hit by gunfire through the walls. No injured were found.

Police obtained a warrant to search the apartment for weapons, Ransweiler said. The reason for the shooting is under investigation.


Cyndi Branam, a neighbor who used to date Herlevic, said he lives alone. She said he lost his job as an insurance agent about six months ago. She said he owns a shotgun.

Branam was in her apartment nearby when she heard the gunfire, which came out in spurts of twos and threes.

“It was so loud my apartment was shaking,” she said. She was told by an officer to evacuate but she hid in her hallway for a time with her cat before deciding to run.

Police said the shooter was initially reported to be firing into the apartment parking lot.


Angel Ezell, who lives two doors down from the apartment, said her husband first reported hearing what sounded like the man throwing furniture around his unit. Later, residents heard gunshots and saw muzzle flashes.

“We were all standing outside and saw the smoke and thought ‘Oh my God, he’s shooting,’” she said.

She said the shooter was yelling, “They’re coming, they’re coming.”

Randy Hallmark was visiting his girlfriend who lives above the man’s apartment when he heard the shots. “I looked out back and I could hear him,” Hallmark said. He called 911.


He estimated the man fired 10 to 15 rounds.

According to Herlevic’s Facebook page, he lists his occupation as a small business owner of an insurance company, as of July. He studied psychology and philosophy at one time at San Diego State University, he wrote.