ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE
Case # 14CF2681
Date: May 20, 2016
DEFENDANT TO FACE TRIAL FOR SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES SHOOTING-MURDER OF ONE MAN AND INJURING TWO WOMEN
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A Garden Grove man will face trial Monday for the special circumstances shooting-murder of a man and attempted murder of two women in Santa Ana. Dustin Sean Ross McDonald, 24, 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 maximum sentence of life in state prison without the possibility of parole. Opening statements are scheduled to begin Monday, May 23, 2016, in Department C-30, Central Justice Center, 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 and meeting with the victim’s vehicle in the area of 12th Street 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 10 shots. He is accused of murdering the front passenger 23-year-old Aaron Chavez and wounding both the 21-year-old female driver of the vehicle and the 28-year-old female passenger.
The Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) responded to the scene and investigated this case. McDonald was arrested by SAPD the next day.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Keith Burke of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.
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TONY RACKAUCKAS, District Attorney
Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff
Office: 714-347-8408
Cell: 714-292-2718
