Person of Interest in East County Homicide Arrested in Santee [UPDATED]

SANTEE, CA — UPDATE: Richard "Ricky" James Gunner, 23, a person of interest in an El Cajon homicide, was taken into custody at 9:45 p.m. Saturday by the San Diego County Fugitive Task Force, a sheriff' lieutenant said.

Gunner was located in a field near Rio Seco Elementary School, 9545 Cuyamaca St. in Santee and taken into custody without incident, Lt. Dan Brislin said.

Earlier Saturday evening, Gunner was named as a person of interest in the apparent shooting death of a man whose body was discovered at 6:30 a.m. Saturday in the 500 block of Danny Street in unincorporated El Cajon.

Brislin said Gunner will booked into the San Diego Central Jail for a parole violation while the investigation continues.

Earlier post:

EL CAJON, CA — The San Diego County Sheriff's Department is seeking the public's assistance in locating a person of interest in an El Cajon homicide investigation, a sheriff's lieutenant said Saturday night.

Richard "Ricky" James Gunner, 23, is wanted for questioning in connection with the discovery of man's body early Saturday in a neighborhood in an unincorporated area of El Cajon.

A call to 911 was made at about 6:30 a.m. of a person who needed help in the 500 block of Danny Street, just east of Gillespie Field and state Route 67. Deputies responded, found the deceased man on a sidewalk with an apparent gunshot wound and called homicide detectives, according to Lt. Dan Brislin.

The victim is believed to be between 20 and 25 years old, the lieutenant said. The San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office was working to confirm his identity Saturday.

Just before 9 p.m. Saturday, Brislin issued a statement urging anyone with information regrarding the location of Gunner to contact the Sheriff's Department immediately.

According to Brislin, Gunner is wanted for a parole violation and is to be considered armed and dangerous.

"He is known to spend time in Santee, Lakeside and surrounding communities," Brislin said. "Anyone who sees Gunner should not approach him and call 911," Brislin said.

Gunner is 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs about 175 pounds. He has brown hair, hazel eyes and a distinctive tattoo across his neck.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to call the Sheriff's Homicide Detail at 858-974-2321 or after hours at 858-565-5200. Tipsters can remain anonymous by calling San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477 and be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

— City News Service contributed to this report.

***Updated at 11:24 p.m. Pacific Time, Sept. 24; Originally posted at 7:46 p.m.***

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