Seven adults were shot, one woman fatally, when a gunman who witnesses said never left his poolside chair opened fire on a birthday party at an University City apartment complex Sunday.

Police shot and killed the suspect, later identified as 49-year-old Peter Selis, a resident at the upscale La Jolla Crossroads complex on Judicial Drive near the Westfield UTC Shopping Center.

A 2015 bankruptcy filing stated that Selis, a father and a car mechanic at a Ford dealership in San Diego, faced crushing debt.

Authorities said the shooter, armed with a semi-automatic pistol, was white and all the victims were people of color — four black women, two black men and one Latino man. The woman killed was not identified.


Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman said investigators have not determined a motive, and were still interviewing witnesses. Authorities were unsure if Selis knew any of the victims.

1 / 35 Walking to their press conference, victims who were at the shooting during a birthday party celebration last Sunday at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments, called for a press conference to speak with the news reporters. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 2 / 35 Lauren Chapman who was at the birthday party celebration last Sunday at the La Jolla Crossroads apartment in University City, believes that Sunday’s shooting was a hate crime. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 3 / 35 Many of those who were at the last Sunday’s shooting at the La Jolla Crossroads apartment in University City stood holding hands as they answered questions from news reporters. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 4 / 35 Mychael Gary who was at the birthday celebration was the first to speak with new reporters about last Sunday’s shooting at the La Jolla Crossroads apartment in University City. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 5 / 35 Haley Thames answers question from the news reporters about the last Sunday’s shooting at the La Jolla Crossroads apartment in University City. L-R, Mychael Gary, Haley Thames and Allison Latta. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 6 / 35 SAN DIEGO, CA - MAY 2, 2017 - A view of the corner of the pool area at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments in University City where Peter Selis, 49, opened fire on a birthday party on Sunday. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 7 / 35 SAN DIEGO, CA - MAY 2, 2017 - Bullet holes are patched up in the pool area near where Peter Selis was sitting at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments in University City Sunday. Selig was shot and killed by police after he shot party goers at the pool. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 8 / 35 SAN DIEGO, CA - MAY 2, 2017 - Bullet holes are patched up in the pool area near where Peter Selis was sitting at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments in University City Sunday. Selig was shot and killed by police after he shot party goers at the pool. (Photo by K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 9 / 35 The pool area at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments in University City was the scene of a shooting on Sunday evening. Peter Selis, 49, who was seated in the lower left, opened fire on a group having a birthday party at the lower right. Seven adults were shot, one fatally. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 10 / 35 The pool area at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments in University City was the scene of a shooting on Sunday evening. Peter Selis, 49, who was seated in the lower left, opened fire on a group having a birthday party at the lower right. Seven adults were shot, one fatally. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 11 / 35 Remnants of a birthday party in the pool area at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments shows the chaotic scene after a shooting took place on Sunday. Peter Selis, 49, open fired on the party at the crowded pool. Seven people were wounded. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 12 / 35 Crews clean up blood on the ground at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments in University City where a mass shooting took placeSunday evening. Peter Selis, 49, shot seven people in the pool area. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 13 / 35 Remnants of a birthday party in the pool area at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments in University City shows the chaotic scene after a shooting took place Sunday evening. Peter Selis, 49, open fired on the party at the crowded pool. Seven people were wounded. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 14 / 35 Blood covers the ground near where Peter Selis, 49, sat and open fired on a birthday party at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments in University City Sunday evening. Seven people were wounded. Selis was shot and killed by police. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 15 / 35 Remnants of a birthday party in the pool area at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments shows the chaotic scene after a shooting took place on Sunday. Peter Selis, 49, open fired on the party at the crowded pool. Seven people were wounded. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 16 / 35 Remnants of a birthday party in the pool area at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments in University City shows the chaotic scene after a shooting took place Sunday evening. Peter Selis, 49, open fired on the party at the crowded pool. Seven people were wounded. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 17 / 35 People’s belongings remain at the pool area at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments in University City after a shooting took place Sunday evening. Peter Selis, 49, open fired on the party at the crowded pool. Seven people were wounded. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 18 / 35 Remnants of a birthday party in the pool area at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments shows the chaotic scene after a shooting took place on Sunday. Peter Selis, 49, open fired on the party at the crowded pool. Seven people were wounded. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 19 / 35 Blood covers the ground near where Peter Selis, 49, sat and open fired on a birthday party at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments in University City Sunday evening. Seven people were wounded. Selis was shot and killed by police. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 20 / 35 Peter Selis, 49, sat in this area and open fired on a birthday party at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments in University City Sunday evening. Seven people were wounded. Selis was shot and killed by police. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 21 / 35 Crews clean up blood on the ground at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments in University City where a mass shooting took placeSunday evening. Peter Selis, 49, shot seven people in the pool area. (K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union-Tribune) 22 / 35 At the La Jolla Crossroads Apartments in La Jolla, SDPD Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman along with San Diego Mayor, Kevin Faulconer brief news reportrs on a gunman shooting 7 victims at the complex. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 23 / 35 A group of men who witnessed the shooter in La Jolla after reports of a gunman shooting 7 victims at La Jolla Crossroads Apartment complex. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 24 / 35 Drew Phillips witnessed the shooter reloading at an apartment complex in University City where the shooter eventually shot 7 victims in the swimming pool area. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 25 / 35 A crowd gathers at the corner of Golden Haven Drive and Judicial in University City after reports of a gunman shooting 7 victims at the La Jolla Crossroads Apartment complex. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 26 / 35 A unidentified woman is taken away by ambulance near the area in La Jolla where a gunman is reported to have shot 7 victims at a complex in University City. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 27 / 35 SDPD Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman briefs news reporters at the corner of Golden Haven Drive and Judicial in University City after reports of a gunman shooting 7 victims at the La Jolla Crossroads Apartment complex. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 28 / 35 A SDPD officers position t hemselves near the area in La Jolla where a gunman is reported to have shot 7 victims at a complex in University City. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 29 / 35 A SDPD officer stops to question a couple near the area in La Jolla where a gunman is reported to have shot 7 victims at a complex in University City. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 30 / 35 A unidentified woman is taken away by ambulance near the area in La Jolla where a gunman is reported to have shot 7 victims at a complex in University City. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 31 / 35 A group of men who witnessed the shooter in La Jolla after reports of a gunman shooting 7 victims at a complex in University City. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 32 / 35 SDPD police officers tape off the corner of Golden Haven Drive and Judicial in La Jolla after reports of a gunman shooting 7 victims at a complex in University City. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 33 / 35 SDPD Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman arrives at the corner of Golden Haven Drive and Judicial in La Jolla after reports of a gunman shooting 7 victims at a complex in University City. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 34 / 35 SDPD Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman arrives at the corner of Golden Haven Drive and Judicial in University City after reports of a gunman shooting 7 victims A group of men who witnessed the shooter in La Jolla after reports of a gunman shooting 7 victims at the La Jolla Crossroads Apartment complex. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) 35 / 35 A crowd gathers at the corner of Golden Haven Drive and Judicial in La Jolla after reports of a gunman shooting 7 victims at a complex in University City. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune)

Partygoer Drew Phillips said shortly before the 6 p.m. shooting, his friend — who was celebrating his birthday — had approached Selis and offered him food and drink. The man declined, and continued to sit quietly yards away.

“Six or seven minutes later it’s just pow, pow, pow, pow — out of nowhere,” Phillips said. “...There was no indication that he was there to do evil.”


Everyone scattered, including a man who fell and broke his arm. Witnesses said there were about 30 people at the pool. At least one of the partygoers lived at the complex.

Phillips, of Escondido, said he hopped a fence where he spotted a Latino man he’d met minutes earlier at the party. He had been shot in his abdomen.

“He was just laying there, and just the look in his eyes — sheer terror,” Phillips said. “I threw my phone down. I just picked him up and I just carried him. I basically ran as fast as I could with him in my arms.”

San Diego Police Department Chief Shelley Zimmerman arrives Sunday, April 30, 2017 at the corner of Golden Haven Drive and Judicial in University City, San Diego, Calif. after reports of a gunman shooting seven victims at a complex in University City. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune)


Two young girls, ages 3 and 8, were with a grandmother and a nanny when the shooting started. Their grandfather, Shahrayar Jeff, said they escaped unscathed.

He said the older child described seeing Selis, in a baseball cap and glasses, “relaxing and shooting people.”

Two UC San Diego students who were in a nearby hot tub were too scared to bolt, but then slowly made their way to a wall. One of the students, 20-year-old Kaela Wong, said she heard Selis threaten women trying to help a victim.

“You can either leave or you can stay here and die,” Wong said she heard Selis say.


Zimmerman said a police helicopter arrived before officers on the ground, and the helicopter crew saw Selis apparently reloading his weapon. The crew directed a sergeant and two officers to the pool.

Police fired when Selis pointed his gun at them, Zimmerman said. She said it’s unclear if Selis fired at the officers.

A San Diego Police Department officer stops to question a couple on Sunday, April 30, 2017 near the area in Univeristy City, San Diego, Calif. where a gunman is reported to have shot seven victims at a complex in University City. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune)

Amit Godbole was in his apartment when he heard gunfire.


“It was like a war zone or something,” Godbole said. “There would be three or four shots, a pause and then more shots. I was trying to count them. I counted 30 or 40.”

Eight people — the seven shooting victims and the man who broke his arm — were taken to hospitals. Among the shooting victims was the man celebrating his birthday.

At least one of the party attendees lived at the upscale complex.

Several of the injured remained in critical condition, Zimmerman said Sunday night.


“Our hearts go out to all the victims, their families and anyone who witnessed this tragic event,” the chief said.

In the aftermath of the violence, pools of blood could be seen near a table filled with food under an umbrella. Red cups were scattered on the ground and a patio table lay on its side.

At a late night press conference, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer condemned the “horrific act.”

“We stand united as a city to reject this senseless violence,” he said.


karen.kucher@sduniontribune.com

UPDATES:

This story was updated at 1:30 a.m. on May 1.

