One of Two Men Shot Near Aliso Pier Dies of Wounds

A young man died Monday from gunshot wounds suffered over the weekend after an argument with men who had been pelting people with water balloons, and police continued to search for his killers.

Jeff Lee Wilson, a 19-year-old painter from Ontario who was shot in the head and back, died at Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center, a hospital spokesman said.

His friend, Micah Stephanian, a 19-year-old student at Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, was shot in the arm and was treated at South Coast Medical Center in Laguna Beach.

Wilson and Stephanian were gathered with a group around a campfire near Aliso Pier at about 9:35 p.m. Saturday when two men threw a water-filled balloon at them from the cliff above. Wilson and Stephanian went to speak with the balloon throwers, and a few minutes later, the others followed.

Heated words were followed by pushing and shoving. Moments later, one of the balloon throwers threatened the group with a knife. Police said that as the young people who had been at the campfire retreated, one man fired three shots from a .380-caliber handgun.

Capt. William Cavenaugh said police had no other leads in the beach shooting except a description of the gunmen.

“We know they were two male Latinos in their late teens to early 20s,” Cavenaugh said. “And that they drove off in a full-size, light-colored 1970s car.”

The men are believed to be about 5 feet 7 and 5 feet 10, both weighing about 180 pounds, police said.

Police ask that anyone who might have witnessed the incident contact Police Investigator Ron Sapp at (714) 497-0377.