Police say an argument inside a Mission Beach hotel room party led to the shooting death of 28-year, Donald White, of El Cajon, Monday night at about 10:20 p.m.
San Diego police arrived at the Bahia Hotel, 998 West Mission Bay Drive, and found White lying on the grass outside the hotel. Paramedics tried to save him but he was pronounced dead at the scene, said Homicide Unit Lt. Kevin Rooney.
An argument erupted during a party in one of the rooms and escalated into a 20- to 30-person melee involving both men and women that spilled onto the parking lot in front of the hotel, he said. That’s when a suspect pulled out a handgun and shot White.
“We believe the incident itself is gang related.” Rooney said, “The victim is not a documented gang member however a number of people that were at the party were gang members from City of San Diego,” he said.
Investigators don’t know why the people were arguing. Police said a suspect description is too vague to be released and no arrests have been made.