A photo of evidence from the James Carter case showing the parking lot at Dr. J's Liquor.

DR J'S: How A Gang Shooting Changed Southeast San Diego

By Claire Trageser / Public Matters Editor

Published February 20, 2019 at 6:00 AM PST

This story was published more than 5 years ago.

Just after midnight on New Year's Eve, two women and two young children were on their way home from church. They stopped at Dr J's Liquor in Lincoln Park to buy a fireplace log.

A group of gang members pulled up and started shooting. Both women were killed. The 7-year-old was shot multiple times while he shielded the 2-year-old with his body. Remarkably, he survived.

This crime was so horrific that it made people pay more attention to what was going on in Southeast San Diego, a lower-income and predominantly African-American pocket of the city.

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If you walk the streets in the area today, people still talk about the shooting and the lasting impacts it had.

Listen to the podcast: Dr J's: How A Gang Shooting Changed Southeast San Diego

KPBS Midday Edition

Dr J's Part 1: What Happened On New Year's Eve At Dr J's Liquor
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Dr J's Part 2: How Policing Changed After The Dr J's Liquor Store Shooting
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Dr J's Part 3: The Families Of The Victims And The Man Convicted
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Dr J's Part 4: The Gang Stigma When A Case Goes To Trial
Public Safety

Dr J's Part 5: The Use Of Informants In The Shooting At Dr J's Liquor
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Dr J's Part 6: What's Next For The Community 16 Years After The Shooting

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Claire Trageser

Claire leads the KPBS Public Matters initiative, a content hub that will provide news stories on politics and governance; facilitated, in-person discussions around important issues that often divide us; and helpful resources and explainers to ensure all San Diegans understand and act upon their opportunity to participate in the democratic process. Claire leads the KPBS initiative and its partnerships with news organizations Voice of San Diego and inewsource.

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KPBS News: Public Safety Policy

KPBS has created a public safety coverage policy to guide decisions on what stories we prioritize, as well as whose narratives we need to include to tell complete stories that best serve our audiences. This policy was shaped through months of training with the Poynter Institute and feedback from the community. You can read the full policy here.

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