San Diego

Pastor Gunned Down After Serving Resident an Eviction Notice: DA

A East County pastor was gunned down after serving a resident an eviction notice, according to the San Diego County District Attorney's office. 

Paul David Carr, 61, pleaded not guilty in court in the shooting death of his landlord for the past four years, Craig Hodson, 55, a pastor at Grace Baptist Church of Jacumba, according to Deputy District Attorney Jeff Lazar.  

When Hodson first served the eviction notice to the home on the 36500 block of Old Highway 80, Carr tried to fight it with an attorney, according to Lazar. The location is approximately 58 miles east of San Diego, just south of Interstate 8, in Boulevard, California.

On Sunday, however, just hours after church services, Hodson followed up with the eviction notice, handing Carr a notice of clean-up procedures. 

"It was at this time, a few minutes later that night, where the defendant actually armed himself with a handgun, walked down to the garage where Mr. Hodson had been cleaning out some items of his and shot him twice fatally, killing him on scene," Lazar said.

When deputies arrived, they found Hodson, 55, lying on the ground in front of a garage. He had suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his torso, deputies said.

Despite first aid, Hodson succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead on scene.

Family and friends told NBC 7, Hodson is a father of 11 children and has several grandchildren. He had been a local propane driver before he turned to ministry full-time, friends said.

The San Diego County Medical Examiner's office will perform an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death.

Lazar said Carr admitted to the shooting when deputies showed up Sunday night.

Carr is being held on $1 million bail. 

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