February 7, 2024 (Lakeside)—San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call reporting gunshots and a man lying in the street in the 9700 block of Cactus Street in Lakeside yesterday at 3:10 p.m.
Deputies found a man suffering from a gunshot wound. Deputies provided medical aid until they were relieved by Fire Department personnel and paramedics. Unfortunately, the victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at 3:25 p.m., says Lieutenant Joseph Jarjura with the Sheriff’s homicide unit.
The victim has been identified as 26-year-old Michael Anthony Johnson.
Error message
Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.
Update January 22, 2015: Welch has been released and charges dropped, though an investigation continues.
Update January 17, 2015: The body of the missing child has been found in the freezer, underneath frozen food. Elaina Rose Welch, 32, has been arrested and charged with two counts of murder. She has been booked into Las Colinas. The causes of death will be determined by the medical examiner. The man killed has been identified as Julio Ricardo Monggiotti, 32.
By Miriam Rafery
Photo courtesy ECM news partner 10 New
January 16, 2015 (Lakeside) – A woman has been detained following the shooting death of a man, 32, in the 1500 block of Quincy Canyon Road on the Barona reservation in Lakeside. Sheriff’s deputies responded shortly after noon, after receiving a radio call from a woman who said her child was dead.
Soon after, Barona Tribal Enforcement got a call reporting an attempted suicide at the same address, said Lt. John Maryon with the Sheriff’s Homicide Detail.
Error message
Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.
Update: The Sheriff's investigation has concluded that this death was a suicide. A man who took the gun, prompting a search, said he did so to prevent students from picking up the weapon.
By Leon Thompson and Miriam Raftery
Photos by Leon Thompson; video by Billy Ortiz
April 3, 2014 (Lakeside) -- High school students walking home from El capitan HIgh School today made a grisly discovery--finding the body of a man who had been shot in an alley behind a laundromat and the KK Market.
"At first it looked staged, it was so unreal, as if we were watching a movie," Markise Carter (photo, below right), one of the students who found the body, told East County Magazine. "Then I saw the blood was still running." Markise said the victim, a young white male perhaps 18 to 25 years old, had a bloody hole in his chest and a puddle of blood in his lap. He was bleeding from his ears, nose and mouth.
Error message
Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.
SWAT officer from SDPD credited with saving lives of fallen deputies
September 26, 2012 (Lakseide)—San Diego Sheriff’s Department has identified the two deputies who were shot in the line of duty yesterday by a suspected child abuser. The gun battle began at 12:17 yesterday at apartment 72 at 12701 Mapleview Street.
Sgt. Craig Johnson, a 23-year veteran of the Santee Sheriff’s Station and Detective Ali Perez, an 18-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Child Abuse unit, both suffered gunshot wounds to the torso. Following surgery at Sharp Memorial Hospital, Sgt. Johnson is in serious condition, while Detective Perez is in critical condition.
Error message
Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.
September 25, 2012 (Lakeside) – Two Sheriff’s deputies have undergone surgery after they were shot by a man suspected of child abuse, Captain Duncan Fraser said. The suspect also suffered wounds, though it is unclear whether they were self-inflicted or if he was shot by deputies.
All three were transported to hospitals and details of their condition has not been released.Authorities have not yet identified the deputies or the suspect.However a woman who said she was the suspect’s girlfriend told media that she found pornographic photos of her boyfriend, Dan Witczak, 30, with one of her two young daughters, 6 and 8.
Error message
Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.
Update 12: 52: confirmed 2 deputies & 1 suspect being transported to area trauma centers.
September 25, 2012 (Lakeside) – Two deputies have been injured by an active shooter in Lakeside at Ashwood and Mapleview, IPN reported at 12:38 p.m. Cal Trans confirms police activity at Highway 67 and Mapleview. Scanner traffic indicates officers calling for cover.
One injury is reported as serious, the other minor. Medics are transporting to Sharp Hospital trauma unit. Avoid the area.
Error message
Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.
Update September 9, 2011: The suspect has been identified as Steven Ritter, 21. He is 6 feet 1 inch tall with a shaved head, and remains at large.
Error message
Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.
May 22, 2011 (Lakeside) – A 29-year-old man was found lying on a walkway outside a home in the 9000 block of Bubbling Wells Road in Lakeside on Wednesday, May 18, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a hospital via ambulance, where he died the next day from his injuries.
Error message
Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.
September 26, 2012 (Lakseide)—San Diego Sheriff’s Department has identified the two deputies who were shot in the line of duty yesterday by a suspected child abuser. The gun battle began at 12:17 yesterday at apartment 72 at 12701 Mapleview Street. 
By Miriam Raftery
May 22, 2011 (Lakeside) – A 29-year-old man was found lying on a walkway outside a home in the 9000 block of Bubbling Wells Road in Lakeside on Wednesday, May 18, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a hospital via ambulance, where he died the next day from his injuries.
Recent comments