Suspect on loose in El Centro shooting

El Centro Police say suspect is armed and dangerous - News 11's Wiley Jawhary reports

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - The El Centro Police Department says it's looking for a suspect who opened gunfire in a neighborhood last weekend.

The incident happened on Saturday, April 30 in an El Centro neighborhood. Sergeant James Thompson says the incident was not random.

"At this time, we don't believe it was a drive-by and it appears there was an intended target," he said.

The suspected shooter has been on the run for nearly a week now. Chris Lopez is a nearby neighbor who said it was just like any other night.

"Five to eight shots being blasted right by my house," he said.

Chris Lopez recalls shots pounding outside his home. That was all that was struck, thankfully no people.

Lopez feels like violence is becoming a normal occurrence throughout his city and that it needs to stop.

 "I should not have to be numb to all that, and neither should people around here either, instead of figuring out issues, people tend to turn to violence," he said.

El Centro Police say the shooter was targetting someone in the area.

"At this time, we don't believe it was a driveby, it appears it is not a random act of violence it was an intended target," Sergeant Thompson said.

Thompson says in the case of this happening again neighbors who hear gunfire should stay inside their homes and take cover. 

As for Lopez, he says he doesn't remember his hometown being like this growing up.

"Now there is just way more cop activity, way more gang activity, I guess gang tags are being posted all over the city, it has just changed, things have changed," he said.

Still no word on why this shooting took place or who exactly was being targeted as it is still under investigation.