Search warrants reveal gun accessories, syringes in San Diego shooter’s apartment

Reporting from San Diego —  Homicide investigators found gun accessories, including a full magazine, as well as syringes in the home of the man who shot seven people before San Diego police killed him, court documents show.

A search warrant affidavit also revealed that a sister of gunman Peter Selis rushed to the apartment complex on April 30, fearing that he might be involved.

Eve Selis told officers that her brother lived there and was “extremely distraught and depressed” over a recent break-up with his girlfriend.

The affidavit by San Diego police homicide Det. David Spitzer set out facts of the case to support the need for a warrant to search Peter Selis’ apartment.

Among the items seized May 1 from a bedroom were a full gun magazine, found in the pocket of a chair, and a gun-cleaning kit in a closet. A gun lock was on a desk. Lying on the bed were a box for the lock, a bag containing a holster and gloves and a cardboard box containing syringes.

A computer tablet lay on the floor. A black bag of miscellaneous pills was in the bathroom.The affidavit did not describe the syringes or their possible purpose.

Selis, a 49-year-old auto mechanic, was deeply in debt after two bankruptcies and had been threatened with jail. Late on that Sunday afternoon, he went to the pool at the La Jolla Crossroads Apartments with a duffel bag and sat in a lounge chair.

The area was crowded, and many of the people were attending a birthday party.

According to the affidavit, Selis drank from a beer bottle, then pulled a pistol from the bag. He started shooting and, after firing two rounds, called his ex-girlfriend and told her what he was doing and that police were coming.

One of his victims, Monique Clark, 35, a mother of three, died. The search warrant document said she was shot once in the chest.

As news reports of the shooting were broadcast, Eve Selis rushed to the complex and described her brother for police, the court record says. Her description matched the shooter’s.

“Fearing Selis may have potentially harmed any roommates or his ex-girlfriend, the decision was made to enter” his apartment, the affidavit said. Seven officers went in, but found no victims. The warrant for a full search was obtained the next day.

pauline.repard@sduniontribune.com

Repard writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune