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San Diego police make new arrests in connection with Hillcrest gel pellet attacks
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San Diego police make new arrests in connection with Hillcrest gel pellet attacks

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — The San Diego Police Department announced it has made three new arrests in connection with a string of gel pellet gun attacks in Hillcrest over the summer. Attacks were reported right on University Avenue, leaving several victims.

But one victim says she can breathe a sigh of relief.

“It’s a relief to know that there are three more people off the streets who were terrorizing our community,” says Eddie Reynoso.

He was hit in the eye in May, in one of these attacks that police are investigating possible hate crimes.

“This brings up a range of emotions,” he says. “Obviously I’m angry, I’m in pain, but I also feel a lot of sadness.”

Months later, in September, more attacks were reported, leaving more victims. The latest suspects, all aged 19, now face multiple hate crime charges linked to the series of attacks.

“You know, you can call it a gel pellet gun, a BB gun, a toy gun — but at the end of the day, they were terrorizing our community,” Reynoso says.

SDPD identified the suspects as Anthony Lopez-Quiones, Arturo Herrera-Sustaita and Angelo Nathaniel Aron.

While police work to bring those responsible for these attacks to justice, for victims like Reynos, it has had a lasting impact on his life.
“The first two months, I would say, were extremely difficult,” he says.

That attack and the injuries it caused completely changed his life.

“I went into therapy, and in August, I quit my job so I could enroll in an intensive outpatient program. And I was very vocal. I ended up homeless, living out of my car,” says Reynoso .

Reynoso tells me that he has worked to turn his life around during this healing journey, but expressed concern that these young suspects will not have that chance.

“Being charged with crimes, you know, that’s going to affect their whole life, and not just them, but their loved ones — just as much, if not more, than it’s going to affect someone like me who’s a victim,” he says . “It’s sad because it makes me wonder what in their lives would lead them to hunt people.”

The three suspects are due to be arraigned next week.

SDPD credited the automatic license plate readers for leading to the arrests.