Suspect Arrested in SR-163 Shootings

4/24/2015
Suspect Arrested in SR­163 Shootings | NBC 7 San Diego
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Suspect Arrested in SR-163 Shootings
By R. Stickney
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Suspect Arrested in SR­163 Shootings
An arrest has been made in the highway shootings that injured one driver and damaged a second car in
San Diego, according to officials. (Published Thursday, Apr 21, 2011)
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Dragasits is suspected in two highway shootings on April 5, CHP officials said.
In one, a 21­year­old University of San Diego student was traveling on southbound
State Route 163 north of Balboa Avenue when she was shot in the abdomen.
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CHP Announce Arrest in Highway Shootings
Shell casings found along the stretch of highway where two vehicles were shot in early April led
investigators to arrest a 58-year old transient. (Published Thursday, Apr 21, 2011)
A second driver came forward after news reports of the Escondido woman's injury,
reporting that his car was damaged by a bullet in the same area of San Diego on
April 5.
Hours after the first shooting was reported, investigators shut down SR 163
southbound from Interstate 15 to Balboa Avenue and searched the highway for
evidence in the case.
Images: Driver Shot on SR 163
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Watch­Live­CHP­Updates­SR­163­Shooting­Investigation.html
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Suspect Arrested in SR­163 Shootings | NBC 7 San Diego
About 10 shell casings were collected to the side of the highway between
Clairemont Mesa Boulevard and Balboa Avenue.
CHP Capt. Rich Stewart said those shell casings contained potential
DNA evidence that led them to Dragasits, a transient who lives in a motor home
that is often parked on Kearny Villa Road. At the time of Dragasits' arrest, the
motor home was parked near Ruffner Street and Balboa Avenue.
Dragasits’ DNA was in the California Department of Justice DNA database which
has profiles from 1.7 million convicted felons and felony suspects said Michael
Grubb with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department crime lab.
“Kudos to CHP staff for locating the fired cartridge casings in the first case,” said
Grubb. “That’s key.”
A match came from information from Dragasits known DNA sample that lives in
the DOJ database Grubb said.
Investigators believe a Winchester 190 rifle was used in both shootings on April 5.
Dragasits was convicted about a month ago of a similar act involving rocks near
the same stretch of highway, Stewart said.
Officials said video surveillance suggested that Dragasits was at the scene of the
shooting on April 5. A driver had a personalized video recording in his or her
vehicle that helped in the investigation, Stewart said.
Investigators found additional evidence in Dragasits’ RV but would not reveal more
information.
"It's an ongoing investigation but we believe at this time we have enough
information both physical evidence and DNA evidence that ties him to the vehicle,
ties him to the location and to the shooting,” Stewart said.
Dragasits told investigators that he is a former county employee and has a Naval
background but the CHP could not confirm that information or provide additional
details on his position or years of service.
Investigators are following up on leads involving other vehicles seen in the area at
the time of the shootings but said they believe they have the suspect.
Dragasits is scheduled to be arraigned Friday on charges including attempted
murder, officials said.
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Published at 10:46 AM PDT on Apr 21, 2011
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Also post on Facebook Spencer Thornburg · Posting as Alissa Leanne ▾
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Very good to hear that they caught him. Kind of bummed that I can't see any of the videos of what's
going on back home from Europe though :(
Reply · Like · 2 · Follow Post · April 21, 2011 at 12:16pm
John J. Griffin · Top Commenter · Edgewood High School, West Covina, CA
Great Job Law Enforcement.
Reply · Like · 2 · Follow Post · April 21, 2011 at 11:21am
Felipe Eddie Zatarain · Top Commenter · San Diego, California
Props to law enforcement!
Reply · Like · Samson Slim · 1 · Follow Post · April 21, 2011 at 11:32am
Top Commenter · San Diego, California
did he slober on his bullets?, how could you leave DNA on shell casings, that subsequently wer eleft
in the freeway a day or two in the sun rain, and weather... even if he did slober on them, how could
the DNA evidence of survived teh hjeat from the firing cap , and gun powder load... the only thing I
can thihnk of is prety nasty, and that's tha he "ejaculated" on his bullets,, because I cant imagine
how else "DNA" would of been present.. and that's a prety far stretch, I cant waitto hear what kind of
"EVIDENCE" was found on teh casings..
Reply · Like · Follow Post · April 21, 2011 at 2:53pm
Samson Slim · Top Commenter · San Diego, California
additionaly, ive shot MANY.22LR's, and never had one penetrate a car door.. even fired long rifle,
again, I find it hard to believe this guy fired his.22lr with enoggh skill to penetrate the door of a car
moving 65­70mph.. when they said "SMALL CALIBER" they wernt kidding,, I was thnking.380 or.32 ,
as in a pistol rd,.. I am very suprized this was a.22lr. sounds liek a wild goose chace/ whitch hunt.. I
wont be suprized if this guy is convicted, but I would be suprized if he is turly the "trigger man".
Reply · Like · Follow Post · April 21, 2011 at 2:57pm
Bernadette M. Senica · UM Case Management at SRS
Awesome law enforcement Investigation! Man I drive thru those areas at least once a week? Huh, the
guy said he has a military background?
Reply · Like · Follow Post · April 22, 2011 at 6:33am
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