California man Craig Sumner Elliott charged with manslaughter for fatally shooting homeless man sleeping on sidewalk
GARDEN GROVE, CALIFORNIA: A 68-year-old man is slapped with a felony voluntary manslaughter charge after he reportedly shot and killed a destitute who was sleeping on a sidewalk he was running on.
According to a release shared by the Orange County District Attorney's Office, Craig Sumner Elliott was jogging on a Garden Grove, California, path with his two dogs and a pushcart on September 28 when he came across Antonio Garcia Avalos, 40, sleeping on the path.
Avalow apparently threw a shoe at Elliott
Reportedly, Elliott nudged Avalos with the pushcart. Subsequently, upon awakening, Avalos confronted Elliott, who began recording the interaction, as detailed by the District Attorney.
According to prosecutors, the video recorded by Elliott reportedly depicts Avalos hurling a shoe at him. The footage then allegedly shows Elliott responding by shooting Avalos three times with a gun he retrieved from the pushcart.
The Garden Grove Police Department arrested Elliott on November 17 in connection with the shooting, as stated in the release.
What other charges does Elliott face?
In addition to the felony voluntary manslaughter charge, Elliott is confronting a felony enhancement for the personal use of a firearm. The District Attorney noted that if he is found guilty on both counts, Elliott could be sentenced to up to 21 years in prison.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer expressed, as reported by People Magazine, "This is a tragic set of circumstances that unfolded in the worst possible way over a minor inconvenience of a blocked sidewalk, and a man is dead as a result."
“This case is a stark reminder that taking the law into your own hands is never the answer and that there are consequences for your actions,” Spitzer claimed.
As per the District Attorney, Elliott has been released from custody after posting bail. His arraignment is scheduled for December 15 at the Stephen K Tamura Justice Center in Westminster, specifically in Department W12.
Homeless man shot dead after he asked the suspect for pizza slice
According to a previous report by Meaww, in White River, Mpumalanga, a homeless man was allegedly shot and killed for requesting a slice of pizza.
Selvy Mohlala, a spokesperson for the provincial police, conveyed that the incident occurred on the night of March 25, 2023, in close proximity to a police post.
“According to information, police in White River heard a gunshot sound around 7 pm near the police station. They then went to investigate, where they found a group of people on the road and the lifeless body of a man lying down,” Mohlala said.
According to Mohlala, the man had been shot in the hand and chest by a 39-year-old man who was reportedly present at the scene.
“It is said that the victim allegedly asked for a pizza from the suspect, who refused to give him. Then the victim assaulted the suspect with a chain. It is further alleged that the suspect drew his firearm and shot him. The victim is estimated to be in his late forties,” Mohlala explained, as reported by IOL.
Medical personnel were summoned to the scene, as per Mohlala, and they declared the man deceased. Mohlala stated, "The suspect was arrested and charged with murder. The firearm as well as his firearm license were confiscated for further investigation."