Santa Ana third striker charged with the shooting murder of a Tustin MMA gym owner

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 16CF0804

Date: March 28, 2016

THIRD STRIKER TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR THE SHOOTING MURDER OF MMA GYM OWNER IN TUSTIN

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A third striker is scheduled to be arraigned today for the shooting murder of a mixed martial arts (MMA) gym owner in Tustin. Kirk Vernell Price, 53, Santa Ana, is charged with one felony count of murder and one felony count of possession of a firearm by a felon, with a sentencing enhancement for the personal discharge of a firearm causing death, and three prior strike convictions for robbery with the use of a firearm in 1983 in Orange County. If convicted, Price faces a maximum sentence of 100 years to life in state prison. Price is scheduled to be arraigned today, March 28, 2016, in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined.

At approximately 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 24, 2016, Price is accused of walking into the OC Boxing MMA Academy in Tustin. The defendant is accused of using a firearm to shoot the gym’s owner, 44-year-old Fahness Lutalo.

Price is accused of subsequently fleeing the scene. Witnesses in the gym called 911 and paramedics responded to the scene along with officers from the Tustin Police Department, who is investigating this case. The victim died at the scene.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Scott Simmons of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.

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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.

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