| For Immediate Release Case# 14CF2681
August 15, 2014 |
DEFENDANT TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES SHOOTING-MURDER OF ONE MAN AND INJURING TWO WOMEN
SANTA ANA – A Garden Grove man will be arraigned today for the special circumstances shooting-murder of a man and attempted murder of two women in Santa Ana. Dustin Sean Ross McDonald, 23, is charged with one felony count of special circumstances murder by lying in wait, and two felony counts of attempted murder with premeditation and deliberation. He also faces sentencing enhancements for the personal discharge of a firearm causing death or great bodily injury. If convicted, he faces a sentence of life in state prison without the possibility of parole. McDonald is scheduled to be arraigned today, Friday, Aug. 15, 2014, in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined.
At approximately 11:30 p.m. on Aug. 12, 2014, McDonald is accused of arranging to meet with the victims for a possible drug transaction. The defendant is accused of driving up and stopping alongside the victims’ vehicle, which was parked in the area of 12th and Main Street in Santa Ana. McDonald is accused of then stepping out of his vehicle, walking around to the front passenger side of the victims’ vehicle while armed with a firearm, and firing approximately seven to 10 gunshots. He is accused of murdering the front passenger, Aaron Chavez, 23, and wounding both the 21-year-old female driver of the vehicle and the 28-year-old female passenger.
The Santa Ana Police Department responded to the scene and investigated this case. McDonald was arrested on Aug. 13, 2014.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Keith Burke of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.
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