Craig Sumner Elliott, 68, allegedly shot Antonio Garcia Avalos, 40, in incident in Orange county
A California jogger was charged this week in the killing of a homeless man who was blocking the sidewalk.
Craig Sumner Elliott, 68, was jogging with his two dogs and pushing a cart on 28 September when he came across Antonio Garcia Avalos, 40, who was sleeping in the middle of the sidewalk, prosecutors in Orange county, California, said.
Elliott allegedly tried to wake Avalos by nudging him with the pushcart, whereupon Avalos started yelling at Elliott to leave him alone.
Elliott, who allegedly filmed their encounter, then brought a handgun out of his cart, prosecutors charged, adding that when Avalos stood and threw a shoe at Elliott, he ducked and responded by shooting Avalos three times.
Avalos subsequently died from his injuries. Elliott, who does have an active concealed carry permit issued by the local sheriff’s office, was arrested on 17 November in the incident.
You wake up to someone "nudging" you with their "cart" and expect not to be annoyed? Or, not to think they are trying to run the "cart" over you? Oh, and they have two (likely full-size) dogs with them. Would you really not go into fight-or-flight mode, really??? … Really?
Have you noticed how most homeless folks most places are not directly obstructing the sidewalk. Instead they are of to the side, in a doorway, in a green space. Anywhere they wont directly get stepped on, woken up, or rousted. If you directly block the sidewalk you might expect to have some hassle and not react by attempting to assault people by throwing your shoes at their head.