A good Samaritan who stopped on Interstate 15 to provide assistance to a man who appeared to be a stranded motorist was fatally shot as soon as he got out of his car early Saturday, San Diego police said.

The victim was identified as 21-year-old Curtis Adams, an active duty member of the Navy in San Diego.

Adams was driving with his girlfriend south on the freeway near the northbound Interstate 5 on-ramp in Logan Heights about 2:20 a.m. when they spotted the motorist next to a white vehicle on the shoulder, police said.

The couple pulled over to help, and Adams was immediately shot as he exited his vehicle, said homicide Lt. Anthony Dupree.


The shooter got back in his vehicle and fled south. Soon after, California Highway Patrol put out an alert that a similar vehicle was stopped on northbound I-5 near 32nd Street. A man was also seen walking away from the vehicle.

A San Diego police officer found the man and detained him. He was being questioned by homicide detectives. His name has not been released.

Adams was taken to a hospital with at least one gunshot wound to his upper body. He died there.


kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @kristinadavis