San Diego gunman was distraught over breakup; ‘zero’ evidence of hate crime, police say

May 1, 2017 7:17 AM PT

Reporting from San Diego —

There was something strange about the man seated in the lounge chair at the end of the pool.

He kept quiet, staring straight ahead, while more than two dozen people sipped drinks and barbecued during a 50th birthday party on a pleasant San Diego afternoon.

Demetrius Griffin, 25, took note of him.

“It was really hot outside. And he had on kind of a jacket, and a T-shirt under the jacket and some cargo shorts. No computer, no book,” said Griffin, who had flown in from Seattle to attend the party.

The man who was celebrating his birthday Sunday decided to head up to his apartment to grab some more food and drinks for his guests. According to Griffin, the host passed by the quiet man and appeared to say something but got no reply. So he kept walking.

Then the quiet man placed a gun on his lap, Griffin said.

Over the next several minutes, according to witnesses and police, 49-year-old Peter Selis shot seven of the partygoers — one fatally — before he was killed by San Diego police.

During a press briefing Monday, Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman said that Selis was despondent over a recent breakup and had called his ex-girlfriend during the shooting rampage.

“What started as a celebration of a friend’s birthday turned into a tragedy of epic proportions,” the chief said.

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

The fact that Selis was white and his victims were either African American or Latino fueled speculation that the attack may have been racially motivated. But Zimmerman said there was ““zero information to indicate that race played a factor.”

The woman who died was identified Monday as Monique Clark. Two of the victims remained hospitalized in critical condition, Zimmerman said.

According to the chief, Selis walked to the pool area about 6 p.m. Sunday and sat in a lounge chair. He opened fire from there, then walked around the pool as he continued to shoot off round after round.

At one point, Zimmerman said, Selis told his ex-girlfriend he had just shot two people. “It is apparent that Selis wanted his ex-girlfriend to listen in as he carried out his rampage,” the chief said.

The first to be shot, Griffin said, was the guest of honor — who spent his birthday Monday in the hospital after undergoing two surgeries. He was listed in stable condition.

As Selis turned his gun on the crowd, Griffin said, people ran in panic. Griffin tried to flee, but the shock of what was happening left him paralyzed.

“I kind of froze because I didn’t believe it was real,” Griffin said.

When he took off running seconds later, Griffin said, he noticed a woman who had been shot in the legs screaming for help. He and another man dragged her to safety, then Griffin took his shirt off and wrapped it around the woman’s wounds in attempt to stop the blood.

A resident at the upscale La Jolla Crossroads — in an affluent pocket of the city about two miles from the UC San Diego campus — told KFMB-TV that he had been in his apartment when he heard a series of gunshots and screams. He ran to the building’s clubhouse, from which he could see the pool.

The shooter, who also lived at the complex, seemed at ease, the witness said.

“He had his beer in one hand and his gun in the other,” he said. “There were two victims lying on the ground, one trying to crawl toward the other one to help.”

Police received multiple 911 calls at 6:06 p.m., and 20 officers and a police helicopter arrived within minutes, Zimmerman said.

Officers in the helicopter saw Selis standing in the pool area, reloading a large-caliber handgun. As he was approached by a San Diego police sergeant and two patrol officers, Zimmerman said, he shot at them before advancing and pointing the weapon in the officers’ direction.

All three returned fire. Selis was pronounced dead at the scene.

Selis, who court records show was married with two children and a stepson, was having severe financial problems.

He owed thousands to a number of different medical centers in the San Diego area, and had been subject to claims from a number of credit card companies, according to a 2015 bankruptcy filing. In total, he appeared to be carrying more than $100,000 in debt.

Records also show that Selis had worked as a mechanic at a San Diego Ford dealership since at least 2010. A photo of him on the dealership’s website shows a broad-shouldered man with a receding hairline, wearing a half-smile.

On Monday, Zimmerman said that Selis did not have any criminal history. He had legally purchased a .45-caliber Sig Sauer handgun three years ago, the chief said, but she did not specify if that weapon was the one used in the attack.

According to Griffin, Selis did not utter a word before opening fire.

“All it’s ever gonna be is speculation,” he said of Selis’ motivation. “What I am gonna say is, this is an act of terror, not necessarily an act of terrorism.”

Parvini reported from San Diego and Queally and Hamilton from Los Angeles. The San Diego Union-Tribune contributed to this report.

matt.hamilton@latimes.com

james.queally@latimes.com

sarah.parvini@latimes.com

Follow @MattHjourno @JamesQueallyLAT and @sarahparvini for breaking news in California.

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UPDATES:

6:45 p.m.: This story has been updated with additional details.

2:20 p.m.: This story has been updated with details from a witness who attended the party and was friends with many of the victims.