San Diego-area mountain bikers are on edge in the aftermath of a shooting and bicycle theft Tuesday in north San Diego County.
The San Diego Police Department is investigating the incident, which involved a cyclist riding beneath Interstate 15 near Lake Hodges, in an area popular among mountain bikers.
Generic photo via Getty Images
The police advisory reads:
“A 37 year old male was riding his bicycle eastbound on the bike path under I-15 when a male suspect, jumped out from behind the rocks. The suspect pointed a handgun at the victim and demanded his bike. The victim raised his hands and the suspect shot four times at the victim, striking the victim once in the hand.
“The victim jumped off his bike and ran the way he came. The suspect rode off in an unknown direction. The victim was transported to the hospital for his injury. The suspect was described as an unknown race male, 6’2″, thin and wearing all black clothing. SDPD’s Robbery detectives were notified. Contact SDPD if you have any info.”
The advisory was posted to Facebook by the San Diego Mountain Biking Assn., along with the description: “Be aware. Crazy things out there. This is not normal. Mountain biker shot in the hand and has bike stolen at Lake Hodges.”
It remains unclear whether the biker was on a mountain bike or an ordinary bicycle, but the news has unsettled the mountain biking community.
One of several comments beneath the SDMBA post reads, “I hope the cyclist who was shot has a full recovery. Most of us have ridden there countless times. It makes you think, that could have been any one of us. Crazy.”
The police advisory was also shared by MTBR.com, a website devoted to mountain biking.
“My wife always hated riding under that bridge,” one commenter wrote. “Now I will never get her to ride at Hodges with me.”
Some on the comment threads were cautioning others to avoid riding alone whenever possible.
–Generic photos via Getty Images
