Police Seek Leads in 2016 Oceanside Cold Case Homicide

Authorities hope new public appeal will crack decade-old murder mystery.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 11:07pm

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An extreme close-up of a spent bullet casing on a dark, textured surface, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually representing the investigation into an unsolved murder.A decade-old homicide case in Oceanside remains unsolved, as police renew their appeal for public tips to crack the cold case.San Diego Today

The Oceanside Police Department is asking the public for help in solving the 2016 murder of Brandon Keiser, who was shot and killed while returning home from buying pizza. Keiser was found mortally wounded on a sidewalk, and witnesses reported the shooter fled in a small, dark-colored sedan. Rewards of $10,000 and $1,000 have been posted for information leading to an arrest.

Why it matters

Unsolved homicides can weigh heavily on a community, leaving loved ones without closure and raising public safety concerns. This case has remained a mystery for over a decade, and renewed efforts to generate leads could finally provide answers for Keiser's family and neighbors.

The details

On March 22, 2016, patrol officers found 35-year-old Brandon Keiser lying mortally wounded on a sidewalk in Oceanside after responding to a report of a shooting. Keiser had been shot after returning home from buying pizza less than half a mile away. Witnesses said the shooter or shooters fled in a small, dark-colored four-door sedan, possibly a late-model Dodge Dart.

  • The incident occurred around 10 p.m. on March 22, 2016.
  • Keiser's murder has remained unsolved for over a decade.

The players

Brandon Keiser

A 35-year-old Oceanside resident who was shot and killed while returning home from buying pizza.

Oceanside Police Department

The law enforcement agency investigating Keiser's decade-old murder and seeking public assistance.

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What’s next

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and San Diego County Crime Stoppers have posted rewards of $10,000 and $1,000, respectively, for information that can help detectives determine who killed Keiser. Anyone with information about the case was asked to call the latter agency or contact it online.

The takeaway

This unsolved homicide case from 2016 highlights the challenges law enforcement faces in cracking cold cases, even with the offer of substantial rewards. Renewed public appeals could generate new leads and provide closure for the victim's family and the Oceanside community.