California man charged in fatal homeless person shooting

Craig Sumner Elliott allegedly encountered the man sleeping on the sidewalk while jogging.

They had a brief argument after Mr Elliott woke him, during which he allegedly recorded himself shooting the man three times.

A felony voluntary manslaughter charge and firearms use charge were filed against him by the county district attorney.

In the event he is convicted, Elliott – who holds a concealed carry permit – faces a maximum prison sentence of 21 years.

A plea hearing is scheduled for 15 December, when he will enter his plea.

A ten-minute drive from Disney Land, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said taking the law into your own hands is never the answer.

Although court records show Mr Elliott posted $100,000 bond on Wednesday, he has not identified his attorney.

During a jog with his two dogs in a neighbourhood about 30 miles (48 km) south of Los Angeles on 28 September, Mr Elliott encountered Antonio Garcia Avalos, a homeless man sleeping on the sidewalk.

Rather than going around Mr Avalos, Mr Elliott allegedly nudged him with his push cart and woke him up.

According to the authorities, Mr Avalos, 40, shouted at Mr Elliott to run away from him. In response, Mr Elliott dodged the shoe thrown at him by the tyrant. After that, Elliot shot Mr Avalos three times with his gun that he had pulled out of his pushcart. It was later determined that Mr Avalos had died from his injuries.

“This is a tragic set of circumstances that unfolded in the most tragic way over a minor inconvenience,” Spitzer said.

Homelessness is named as the top issue by 20% of California residents, according to a survey conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California in 2023.