Around 6:40 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 1, a man fired shots outside the ticket turnstiles at Del Mar Racetrack. The man, identified by the San Diego Sheriff’s Office as Daniel Elizarraras, 22, of Escondido, began shooting after being told that the post-race concert, Ice Cube, was sold out. According to a release from the department, Elizarraras began arguing with the teller – bringing deputies to the scene. Upon their arrival, it is alleged that he pulled out a semi-automatic handgun and fired several rounds into a crowd. Deputies acted quickly and returned fire, wounding Elizarraras. The suspect was then transported to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, where he is now reported to be in stable condition.
“There’s gunfire at the track,” the race announcer interrupted during a live broadcast of the race (one of the last of the summer season). At 7:22 p.m., Del Mar Racetrack tweeted: “The situation has been contained. The concert is moving forward as planned.” The concert did indeed commence, around 8:30 and ended promptly an hour later. Finger pointing
In an odd turn of events, Michael A. Schwartz, executive director for San Diego County Gun Owners PAC, decided to politicize the event in a recent press release:
“In response to the shooting at the Ice Cube concert at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, the San Diego County Gun Owners PAC calls on the 22nd Agricultural Board to discontinue events that invite violence and, instead, support events that promote family, safety, and law-abiding San Diegans, such as the ‘Crossroads of the West’ gun show,” the release stated.
“Where’s the moral outrage towards the Del Mar Fairgrounds and the Agricultural Association board of directors? The Agricultural Board permitted a rap concert performed by an artist with a history of glorifying violence, drug dealing, gang culture, and degrading women,” it continued. “Guess what happened? Sure enough, violence breaks out with a gun. “Yet, the board is entertaining the idea, based on so-called moral grounds, of discontinuing the gun shows attended by thousands of law-abiding San Diegan families who learn gun safety. The board wants to close down or demand additional security for family-oriented events, but then they allow Ice Cube concerts.”
Like the majority of other racetracks, Del Mar does not require that attendees pass through a metal detector. The only time that metal detectors have ever been present was during the Breeders’ Cup last year. La Jolla Village News reached out to the San Diego’s Sheriff’s Office regarding the officer-involved shooting, but, as of time of publication, had received no response.