Man sentenced for killing a 17-year-old rival in Fountain Valley

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

November 6, 2014

Case # 12WF2176

MAN SENTENCED 18 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR SHOOTING-MURDER OF RIVAL 17-YEAR-OLD

SANTA ANA – A man was sentenced yesterday, Nov. 5, 2014, to 18 years to life in state prison for shooting and murdering a 17-year-old rival. Reda Hassan Safieddine, 21, Fountain Valley, was found guilty by a jury Sept. 18, 2014, of one felony count of second degree murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal discharge of a firearm causing death and one misdemeanor count of brandishing a firearm.

At the time of the crime, Safieddine, then 18-years-old, and the victim had an ongoing rivalry. A few hours before the shooting on Aug. 13, 2012, the defendant encountered the victim and argued with him in a residential neighborhood in Santa Ana. After the verbal confrontation, Safieddine and the victim went separate ways.

At approximately 1:20 p.m. the defendant drove and parked his car in a convenience store parking lot in Fountain Valley. The defendant then grabbed a shotgun from the backseat of his car upon seeing the victim drive into the parking lot.

Safieddine stood outside his car as the unarmed victim walked toward the defendant’s vehicle. Safieddine murdered the victim by firing one round from his shotgun and hitting the victim’s neck. The victim died at the scene.

Fountain Valley Police Department (FVPD) officers arrived at the scene and arrested the defendant.

FVPD investigated this case. Senior Deputy District Attorney Steve McGreevy of the Homicide Unit prosecuted this case.

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TONY RACKAUCKAS, District Attorney

Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff
Office: 714-347-8408
Cell: 714-292-2718