San Diego
Two people were injured and one was killed when gunshots were exchanged at a home in East San Diego during a drug buy, police said.
Shots were heard coming from a residence in the 4000 block of Van Dyke Avenue at 11 p.m. Wednesday, homicide Lt. Paul Ybarrondo said.
Police found Benjamin Merritt Jr., 23, next door to where the gun battle erupted. He was taken to UC San Diego Medical Center, where he died of gunshot wounds in the chest and abdomen, the medical examiner’s office said.
Police also found Melisa Evans, 18, across the street from the residence with a minor gunshot wound in her right thigh. James Smith, the resident of the home, received a bullet wound in his left leg. Both were taken to UC San Diego Medical Center and were listed Thursday in good condition.
Ybarrondo said Evans had gone to the home to buy drugs. While inside, two or three men broke in and a struggle followed, with shots being fired.
Smith, armed with a 9-millimeter automatic, shot at the intruders and struck Merritt, Ybarrondo said. One of the intruders shot Smith with a .25-caliber automatic pistol, he said. Police are unsure who struck Evans.
Police found Merritt near the gate of an apartment complex next door to where the shooting occurred. He died at 11:35 p.m. Wednesday.
No arrests have been made, Ybarrondo said.
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