A San Diego city employee was repairing a broken water line in University Heights on Monday when a man emerged from a nearby house and shot him, thinking he was an intruder, San Diego police said.

A crew with the city’s Public Utilities Department was sent to the area of Meade Avenue and New Jersey Street after a broken high-line was reported about 8:30 p.m.

High-lines are temporary, two-inch pipes installed above ground to keep people in service while water mains are being replaced. Broken high-lines are treated as emergencies, city officials said.

One of the crew members, a 55-year-old man, knocked on the door of a nearby residence before attending to the pipe near a front window of the house, police said.


Soon after, a 79-year-old resident came out of the home with a 12-gauge shotgun, police said. He fired one shot at the worker, striking him in the arm and chest.

The injured worker was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening.

The resident later told police he thought the employee was trying to break into his house. The man, identified as Nathan Brogan, was arrested and jailed on suspicion of attempted murder, personal use of a firearm in commission of a felony and negligent discharge of a firearm.

Anyone with information related to the incident was asked to call San Diego police or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.


Twitter: @karenkucher


(619) 293-1350

karen.kucher@sduniontribune.com