Kenneth Confer, 28, was found with a gunshot wound to the head on a second-floor landing of an apartment building on El Cajon Boulevard in the El Cerrito neighborhood of San Diego on December 26, 2020. First responders moved him to a safe location and performed CPR, and he was pronounced dead after being taken to hospital. Investigators say an altercation occurred between Kenneth and another man shortly before the shooting.

Police identified the suspect as 18-year-old Joseph Mehlenbacher, who was staying at a friend’s apartment nearby. According to the San Diego Police Department, Mehlenbacher became angered by noise coming from the apartment where Kenneth was present, confronted him, brandished a handgun, was persuaded to go back inside, then later returned and shot Kenneth in the head. Mehlenbacher reportedly fled in a car and was arrested four days later in Murrieta. A knife was found near Kenneth’s body and the defense later raised self-defense; prosecutors disputed that Kenneth had used the knife to threaten Mehlenbacher.

Anyone who knew Kenneth, witnessed the December 26 incident, or has information about what happened is asked to come forward.