Community Corner

Accused Freeway Shooter to Appear in Preliminary Hearing

Enrique Ayon accused of wounding a motorist in a freeway shooting spree.

Freeway Shooter

A man accused of wounding a motorist and piercing the bodies of several moving vehicles in a freeway shooting spree that stretched from National City to Del Mar is scheduled to appear Tuesday at a preliminary hearing being held to determine if enough evidence exists for him to stand trial.

Enrique Ayon, 24, of Lancaster is charged with eight counts, including two counts of attempted murder, and faces more than 63 years to life in state prison if convicted, said prosecutor Chris Moon.

Find out what's happening in Powaywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Authorities believe Ayon acted alone, although a motive has not been determined.

Hanatvirus in San Diego County

Find out what's happening in Powaywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A deer mouse caught in Chula Vista last week in routine monitoring has tested positive for hantavirus, which can cause a fatal disease in humans, according to the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health.

The discovery brings the total number of rodents found with hantavirus to 52, compared to 21 last year. County officials think last winter's rains increased the rodent population to account for the greater number of positive finds.

Hantavirus can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which begins with flu-like symptoms but can produce severe breathing difficulties and lead to death.

There is no treatment, vaccine or cure for hantavirus infections, which are deadly in 36 percent of cases, according to the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The DEH said the best way to prevent the disease is to keep mice out of houses, garages and sheds by sealing holes larger than the size of a dime.

Mountain Lion Sighting

A reported sighting of a mountain lion in a North County gorge prompted brief lockdowns at two nearby schools Monday while authorities searched in vain for the big cat.

Someone in a neighborhood on 4S Ranch Parkway reported seeing the large cougar shortly before 12:30 p.m. on the other side of an adjacent canyon, close to a boys and girls club building, sheriff's Lt. David Gilmore said.

Administrators at nearby Stone Ranch Elementary and Oak Valley Middle School kept all pupils secured inside their classrooms for about 45 minutes while deputies and state Fish and Game officers searched the area with airborne help from a sheriff's helicopter crew. The personnel spotted no puma, according to Gilmore. Read the full story on RanchoBernardo.Patch.com.

-City News Service


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here