On the evening of March 29, 2024, at approximately 8:00 p.m., 71-year-old Vista resident Bryan Robert Hugo was found near State Route 78 at the Sycamore Avenue exit, suffering from at least one gunshot wound. Despite prompt medical attention, he was pronounced dead shortly before 9:00 p.m.
Around the same time, a California Highway Patrol officer observed a vehicle potentially linked to the incident fleeing eastbound on SR-78.
A pursuit ensued, culminating in San Marcos, where two individuals were detained. The driver, 19-year-old Joseph Freddy Cedillo of Escondido, was arrested on suspicion of murder, while his passenger, 18-year-old Jamal Alexander Solis of Santee, was arrested on suspicion of being an accessory after the fact.
Preliminary investigations suggest a possible traffic-related altercation between Hugo's vehicle and the suspects' prior to the shooting. As Cedillo and Solis fled the scene on Sycamore Avenue, their vehicle reportedly collided with multiple cars. Authorities have stated that there are no outstanding suspects or known threats to the community at this time. The exact circumstances and motive behind the shooting remain under investigation.
The San Diego County Sheriff's Department has urged anyone with information about the incident, or those who may have been victims of hit-and-run collisions in the area during that time, to come forward. Individuals can contact the Sheriff's Department at (858) 565-5200 or provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
