Three People Wounded in San Diego Drive-By Shooting; Suspect Arrested

Three people, two of whom had just left a Lions Club luncheon, were wounded on a downtown San Diego intersection Tuesday in a drive-by shooting that police said apparently lacked a motive.

Shortly after the shooting, police arrested Rolando Rosario Ignacio, 25, at his southeast San Diego home as he got out of his car carrying a .357 revolver in a plastic bag, police spokesman Dave Cohen said.

The incident was the latest in a rash of drive-by shootings in San Diego this year. It differed from the others because it was the first to encroach on the busy downtown Gaslamp Quarter during daylight, and did not appear to be gang- or drug-related, police said.

“There’s no apparent motive for it, and that’s what makes it different,” police spokesman Bill Robinson said.

Wounded were Susan Snyder, 29, owner of a downtown art gallery; Robert Mengar, 59, a San Marcos investment counselor; and Cynthia Conyiers, 37, a sales clerk for Sears. Conyiers was listed in good condition and Mengar was listed in fair condition late Tuesday at UC San Diego Medical Center. A hospital spokeswoman said Snyder was treated but might not require hospitalization.

Mengar and Conyiers were among a group who stayed late to talk to retired baseball star Steve Garvey after he addressed the San Diego Lions Club on the subject of everyday heroes, said club President George Saadah. They were walking to a car when they were shot.