The man was found critically injured early Wednesday outside a convenience store on East Vista Way, authorities said.
VISTA, CA — San Diego County sheriff’s homicide detectives are investigating the death of a man who was found with traumatic injuries early Wednesday outside a convenience store on East Vista Way, where efforts to save him were unsuccessful.
Deputies from the Vista Sheriff’s Station responded at about 3:15 a.m. Sept. 30 to a report of an injured person in the 1400 block of East Vista Way, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. Deputies found an adult man suffering from serious injuries and immediately began lifesaving measures while emergency medical personnel were called to the scene. The man died despite those efforts and was pronounced dead there.
The incident occurred near an ARCO and AMPM convenience store in the area of East Vista Way and Monte Mar Road. ABC 10News reported that someone at the store alerted authorities after seeing an injured man outside the business. NBC 7 San Diego reported that deputies were investigating the case as a homicide and were searching for a suspect. No suspect description had been released.
Initial news reports described the death as a stabbing, but the Sheriff’s Department’s public account described the victim as suffering from traumatic injuries without specifying how they were inflicted. Authorities had not publicly identified the man or released his age as of the latest reports. The circumstances leading to his death also remained under investigation.
Sheriff’s homicide detectives took responsibility for the case and began interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence. Investigators were working to determine what happened before deputies arrived and what may have motivated the assault. The department said information gathered early in the investigation indicated the incident appeared to be isolated.
Authorities had not announced an arrest or publicly identified a suspect in connection with the killing. NBC 7 reported that deputies were looking for a suspect but that investigators had not provided a description. Officials also had not disclosed whether the victim and the person responsible knew each other or what may have led to the confrontation.
The investigation remained active as detectives worked to establish a timeline and review evidence from the area. The location is a commercial property along East Vista Way, and investigators focused their work around the convenience store after the man was found early Wednesday. Authorities had not released additional information about evidence recovered at the scene.
The victim’s identity was being withheld pending official confirmation and notification procedures. Authorities also had not announced a motive. The Sheriff’s Department said homicide detectives were continuing to interview witnesses and collect evidence to determine the circumstances surrounding the man’s death.
No further arrests or suspect information had been announced in the latest publicly available reports. The case remains under investigation by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Homicide Unit.
Author note: Last updated October 3, 2026.