Authorities seized an assault rifle along with dozens of handguns and other rifles and explosives from the home of a University Heights man suspected of shooting a city employee who was working to restore water to his home on Labor Day, the City Attorney’s Office announced Friday.

The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department bomb squad found and took the cache Sept. 7 while serving what is known as a “gun violence restraining order” against the homeowner and accused shooter, 79-year-old Nathan Brogan, officials said.

The weapons stockpile included an AR-15 with a 200-round drum magazine, 34 additional rifles and 21 handguns taken from Brogan’s home, the City Attorney’s Office said.

The bomb squad also removed 75,000 rounds of ammunition as well as explosives, among them a smoke grenade and 4.5 pounds of loose black powder.


Authorities found the guns in rooms, cabinets and storage areas inside Brogan’s home. In his garage, they found the black powder, the ammunition, a reloading bench and equipment used for homemade ammunition.

The City Attorney‘s Office noted that the home sits about five blocks from Alice Birney Elementary School.

The District Attorney’s Office has charged Brogan with attempted murder, assault with a firearm and shooting at an inhabited dwelling, all felonies. He has pleaded not guilty, and remains jailed in lieu of $1 million bail.

An AR-15, seen here, was among dozens of guns authorities seized from the University Heights home of a man accused of shooting a city worker on Labor Day. (Photo courtesy San Diego City Attorney’s Office)


On the day of the shooting, a San Diego’s Water Department crew was in the vicinity of Meade Avenue and New Jersey Street, trying to restore water service to homes in the area.

A 55-year-old supervisor — wearing an orange vest and safety gear — approached Brogan’s home to check that service had been restored.

Deputy District Attorney Matthew Greco has said the employee saw Brogan in the home and tried to call out to him, identifying himself in the process.

But Brogan disappeared, Greco said.


The prosecutor said Brogan soon came out of the home carrying a 12-gauge shotgun. The victim again identified himself.

Brogan replied, “I don’t care who you are with,” then shot the worker, Greco said. The victim was struck in his chest and arm.

The resident later told police that he thought the worker was trying to break into his house, authorities said.

Using what is known as a “gun violence restraining order,” authorities seized roughly 75,000 rounds of ammunition from the home of a University Heights man accused of shooting a city worker on Labor Day. (Photo courtesy San Diego City Attorney’s Office)


City Attorney Mara Elliott issued a statement Friday that the gun violence restraining orders “likely prevented an even greater tragedy.”

“Our Police Department was rightly concerned that the suspect, if released on bail, would have immediate access to weapons concealed in his house, Elliott said. “Their instincts were confirmed when, after our office obtained a GVRO, they searched his residence and uncovered a deadly arsenal.”

Gun violence restraining orders — available in California since 2016 — allow close family members, roommates and law enforcement to ask a court to force a person to surrender or sell their firearms. The orders also bar them from possessing guns or ammunition for a year.

Under the law, the court must find the person “poses an immediate and present danger” to themselves or others.


The City Attorney’s Office said it has obtained 56 gun violence restraining orders thus far on behalf of the San Diego Police Department. The orders led police to seize more than 190 firearms, including a dozen AR-15s, from people whom the court found to be a threat to themselves or others, the office said.

The office announced in February that it had adopted an “aggressive strategy” of obtaining such restraining orders against people “who present serious risk of harm.”

The approach was developed by the City Attorney’s Office and then-Assistant police Chief David Nisleit, who now leads the Police Department.


teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com

(760) 529-4945


Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT