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The victim was driving a van in the 1100 block of East Mission Avenue when the assailant, who was on foot, opened fire on him from the roadside shortly before 6 p.m. on July 31. A bullet struck the driver in the head, and the eastbound vehicle veered off the street and struck a telephone pole, snapping it in half, Lt. Chris Wynn said.

Another teenager who had been riding in the van fled before police and paramedics arrived.

The victim was admitted to Palomar Medical Center in critical condition. He has since been released and is making progress toward recovery, according to police.

Witnesses described the assailant as a dark-skinned Latino in his mid- to late teens, with short, spiked black hair and bloodshot eyes. He was wearing baggy blue pants, a white T-shirt and white shoes.

Authorities have not disclosed a motive for the shooting.

Police eventually located the youth who ran from the van and arrested him on an unrelated warrant, Wynn said.