Confrontations in South Bay : Same Man Suspected in 2 Gun Incidents

A recent parolee who allegedly held a National City family at gunpoint during a robbery attempt was overpowered and shot by one of the family members, police reported Monday.

William Rouser, 28, of Imperial Beach was identified by Coronado police as the suspect in a similar incident earlier Sunday during which he took a shot at a man, robbed three people and stole a car.

National City police said that Rouser confronted Frank Maldonado and Georgina Reta outside Reta’s home at 713 E. First St. about 10 p.m. Sunday and forced them inside at gunpoint.

In the kitchen, Rouser ordered Maldonado, Reta and her mother to lie on the floor and had them yell for other family members in the home, the victims told police.

Shot Fired

When Reta’s brother, Ruben Reta, entered the kitchen, he grabbed for the intruder’s .22-caliber handgun. A shot went off in the ensuing struggle but no one was hit, police said.

Reta eventually wrested the gun from Rouser and shot him once. Rouser was taken to UCSD Medical Center for treatment. Authorities did not have Rouser’s condition.

Ruben Reta “was protecting his life and his family” and will not face charges, Officer Wes Andrews said.

Andrews said Rouser was arrested on suspicion of attempted armed robbery, kidnaping, burglary, possession of a firearm, possession of a loaded firearm, battery and violation of parole.

Sunday afternoon, Rouser allegedly brandished a .22-caliber revolver as he approached a woman outside a home in the 1300 block of 9th Street in Coronado and demanded that she let him in, police said. She did not have a key.

Two Men Confronted

Rouser then headed to a home on the 900 block of A Avenue, where at gunpoint he demanded that two men sitting outside enter the home, police said. One of the men ran away and Rouser allegedly fired one shot, missing the man.

He forced the other man inside the home, police said, and took an undetermined amount of money and jewelry from the three people inside.

The gunman then forced a woman in the home to drive him to San Diego, police said. He ordered the woman out of the car at 40th Street and Ocean View Boulevard and drove off.

Coronado Police Cmdr. Robert Paseman said his department will seek charges of robbery, kidnaping, burglary, auto theft, false imprisonment and assault with a deadly weapon against Rouser.

Paseman said Rouser had been paroled Jan. 7 after serving time for a charge of possession of a firearm by a felon.