SAN DIEGO -- A recent La Jolla High School graduate was shot and killed Wednesday night after being lured by robbers with a phony Craigslist ad, police said.
Officers responding to a report of gunfire found the 18-year-old man slumped over the wheel of his vehicle in the 3000 block of Artemia Way about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to San Diego police.
The victim was identified as Thursday as Garrett Beerki of Pacific Beach, SDPD homicide Lt. Kevin Rooney said.
A short time earlier, the victim and his girlfriend had gone to the 2800 block of Casey Street to complete the purchase of an item offered for sale on Craigslist, Rooney said.
Three 17-year-old black males, pretending to be sellers, robbed the couple of cash and cell phones, Rooney said, noting that afterwards, the suspects fled in a green Honda Accord, which the victim followed in his vehicle in an attempt to get a license plate number.
The Accord turned around in a cul-de-sac in the 3000 block of Artemia Way and headed toward the victim's vehicle, according to the lieutenant.
"As the vehicles were next to each other, one of the suspects fired a shot, striking the victim,'' Rooney said.
The Accord continued on and crashed in the 3000 block of Fleming Way, and the suspects bailed on foot. Police arrested all three suspects about one block from the crash location, with help from air and canine units.
The suspects will be booked into Juvenile Hall on suspicion of robbery and murder, Rooney said.
The name of the victim, who died shortly after arriving at a hospital, is being withheld until his family can be notified. He lived with his mother in Pacific Beach, according to the county coroner's office.
Officers responding to a report of gunfire found the 18-year-old man slumped over the wheel of his vehicle in the 3000 block of Artemia Way about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to San Diego police.
The victim was identified as Thursday as Garrett Beerki of Pacific Beach, SDPD homicide Lt. Kevin Rooney said.
A short time earlier, the victim and his girlfriend had gone to the 2800 block of Casey Street to complete the purchase of an item offered for sale on Craigslist, Rooney said.
Three 17-year-old black males, pretending to be sellers, robbed the couple of cash and cell phones, Rooney said, noting that afterwards, the suspects fled in a green Honda Accord, which the victim followed in his vehicle in an attempt to get a license plate number.
The Accord turned around in a cul-de-sac in the 3000 block of Artemia Way and headed toward the victim's vehicle, according to the lieutenant.
"As the vehicles were next to each other, one of the suspects fired a shot, striking the victim,'' Rooney said.
The Accord continued on and crashed in the 3000 block of Fleming Way, and the suspects bailed on foot. Police arrested all three suspects about one block from the crash location, with help from air and canine units.
The suspects will be booked into Juvenile Hall on suspicion of robbery and murder, Rooney said.
The name of the victim, who died shortly after arriving at a hospital, is being withheld until his family can be notified. He lived with his mother in Pacific Beach, according to the county coroner's office.
