March 31, 2024 - San Diego County Sheriff’s Department officials report on March 29, 2024, at around 8:00 p.m., Sheriff's dispatch received a radio call to assist a Carlsbad Police Officer with a person down near the 78/Sycamore Avenue exit and on-ramps in the city of Vista. Deputies arrived on scene and saw paramedics providing medical attention to a 71-year-old adult male victim. The victim had been shot at least once. He was transported to the hospital and was pronounced deceased shortly before 9:00 p.m. His name is not being released until his family has been notified.

Around the same time the assist call to the Sheriff's Department came out, a California Highway Patrol (CHP) vehicle was in the area. CHP believed they saw a vehicle that was possibly involved in a crime or part of the incident. The suspect vehicle fled on east bound SR78 with the CHP Officers in pursuit. The pursuit ended in San Marcos and the two occupants were detained.

The driver, 19-year-old Joseph Freddy Cedillo, and his passenger, 18-year-old Jamal Alexander Solis, were interviewed by Homicide detectives. Cedillo was arrested and booked into the Vista Detention Facility for 187 PC – Murder, and Solis was arrested and booked for 32 PC – Accessory After the Fact.

The circumstances and motivation of the shooting are still under investigation. There are no outstanding suspects or danger to the community that we are aware of. No other information is being released at this time.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Homicide Unit at (858) 285-6330/after hours at (858) 565-5200.  You can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
Source: San Diego County Sheriff’s Department