September 13,1998

Fugitive Suspect: Chang Chi Kao (aka "Gripper")

Date: September 13, 1998

Address: 6537 Bell Bluff Avenue

Synopsis: The suspect Chang Chi Kao is wanted for the murder of 19-year-old David Dobson that occurred on September 13, 1998 at 6537 Bell Bluff Avenue. There is an outstanding felony arrest warrant charging Kao with murder.

On the evening of September 13, 1998, a crowd of young people was attending a party on Bell Bluff Avenue in San Carlos. The crowd had spilled outside and onto the sidewalk and street where everyone was drinking and talking. A slow-moving car went by the group and one of the party-goers made a kicking motion at the car as it passed, thinking it was his friend’s car. The car sped off but later returned with several more cars, each car filled with Asian teenagers who were gang members. The gang members picked Dobson out of the group and attacked him in retaliation for the kicking incident (he was not the kicker). Dobson was repeatedly beaten and then shot, and subsequently died of his injuries.

Several other suspects have been arrested and convicted for this murder. Kao is the last outstanding suspect.

Kao is an Asian male born 2-17-80. He is 5’10” and weighs 160 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes. Kao has tattoos on the right side of his back and on his right upper arm. He is known to associate with Laotion-American gang members and has contacts in neighborhoods in southeastern San Diego and in the North County.







If you have information on any of the cases listed on this website, or any other San Diego homicide case, we strongly urge you to contact the San Diego Police Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293. You can also e-mail the Cold Case Team at ddolan@pd.sandiego.gov.