Tue. Nov 5th, 2024

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 14CF2681

Date: June 14, 2016

DEFENDANT CONVICTED OF SHOOTING AND MURDERING ONE MAN AND ATTEMPTED MURDER OF TWO WOMEN

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A Garden Grove man was convicted today of shooting and murdering a man and attempting to murder two women in Santa Ana. Dustin Sean Ross McDonald, 24, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count of first degree murder, two felony counts of attempted murder with premeditation and deliberation, and sentencing enhancements for the personal discharge of a firearm causing death or great bodily injury. He faces a maximum sentence of 114 years to life in state prison at his sentencing Aug. 26, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-30, Central Justice Center Santa Ana.

On Aug. 12, 2014, McDonald arranged to meet with the three victims in Santa Ana for a drug transaction. At approximately 11:30 p.m. that night, the defendant drove up to the victim’s vehicle in the area of 12th Street and Main Street, stepped out of his vehicle, walked around to the front passenger side of the victims’ vehicle while armed with a firearm, and fired approximately 10 shots. McDonald murdered the front passenger, 23-year-old Aaron Chavez, and wounded 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

author avatar
Art Pedroza Editor
Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

By Art Pedroza

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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