A gunman with a rifle and shotgun fired several rounds into the air near downtown San Diego early Wednesday before being arrested.

The 42-year-old man was taken into custody without a struggle, San Diego police Officer Tony Martinez said.

“Fortunately it didn’t go bad,” Martinez said. “No one was injured. The worst didn’t happen.”

Several people called 911 about 2:30 a.m. when they heard several gunshots. Officers found shell casings at Fifth Avenue and Cedar Street, in the Cortez neighborhood, Martinez said.


Police found the gunman about a block away, near Fourth Avenue, carrying a shotgun, a rifle, and extra ammunition. He is suspected of having fired one of the weapons into the air while he walked down the street, Martinez said.

When the man saw the officers, he dropped the guns and dropped to the ground right away, Martinez said. Police seized the two guns and the ammo.