Second Shooting in One Day; La Jolla Man Shot by Sister's Ex [Updated]

This article was updated at 3:19 p.m., Sept. 18, 2013. It first posted at 8:45 a.m., Sept. 18, 2013.

A man who allegedly shot and wounded two La Jolla residents, including his ex-wife's brother, at homes about a half-mile apart early today was arrested following a scuffle with the second victim, authorities reported.

Hans Peterson, 48, is suspected of opening fire into a home in the 5700 block of Waverly Drive about 3 a.m., wounding a 53-year-old man who had been awakened by the gunshots and got up to investigate, according to San Diego police.

The victim suffered a bullet wound to his upper body, 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 a 43-year-old resident with a gunshot wound to his upper body and Peterson 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 and the assailant him over the head with it.

Medics took the gunshot victims, both of whom were expected to survive, to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla. Police withheld their names, but neighbors identified the initial victim as UC San Diego researcher Steven Dowdy and the second as Mission Beach-based real estate agent and property investor Ron Fletcher.

Peterson was treated at the same hospital before being released and taken to downtown SDPD headquarters for questioning. He was expected to be booked into county jail later in the day, Mayer said.

The relationship between Dowdy and the suspect was unclear, though the residents of both homes involved in the shootings are acquainted, the lieutenant said.

Two young girls were in Fletcher's home at the time of the shooting, according to police. Neither was harmed, Mayer said.—City News Service