Hans Petersen, Alleged La Jolla Shooter, Heading to Court

A biotech executive who allegedly shot and wounded two La Jolla residents, including his ex-wife's brother, at homes about a half-mile apart, is scheduled to be arraigned today at the downtown courthouse.

Hans Petersen, 49, is suspected of opening fire into a home in the 5700 block of Waverly Drive about 3 a.m. Wednesday, wounding 53-year-old Steven Dowdy, a UC San Diego researcher and former business associate, who had been awakened by the gunshots and got up to investigate, according to San Diego police.

Dowdy suffered a bullet wound to his lower back, SDPD public-affairs Lt. Kevin Mayer said.

Shortly before 7 a.m., more gunfire was reported in the 1400 block of Cottontail Lane, about a half-mile southwest of the site of the first shooting. There, police found 43-year-old Ronald Fletcher with a gunshot wound to his stomach and Petersen suffering from a head injury, Mayer said.

The victim, the suspect's former brother-in-law, told officers that after being shot in the abdomen, he managed to wrest the gun away from the assailant and hit him over the head with it. Petersen was treated at the same hospital before being released and taken to downtown SDPD headquarters for questioning.

Police said the relationship between Petersen and Dowdy began to sour when Petersen lost his job and blamed Dowdy. Petersen was married to and is estranged from Fletcher's sister. Police believe Petersen shot Fletcher because of the role he played in his sister's separation from Petersen.

According to Petersen's online resume, he is CEO of Bays Four Corp., a genome data-analysis firm headquartered in La Jolla.

—City News Service