His lawyer announced that a man accused of a series of shootings at and around a Southern California campsite, which included the murder of a pharmaceutical researcher as he was sleeping inside a tent with his two young children, had been convicted of second-degree homicide and other crimes.
In an interview, Nick Okorocha, the attorney, said that although Anthony Rauda was charged with murdering Tristan Beaudette in the first degree on June 22, 2018, the jury found him guilty of a lesser charge.
Okorocha also said that Rauda had been convicted on three counts of attempted homicide and five counts for burglary.
The jury found Rauda not guilty of the seven counts of attempted murder for a series of shootings which spanned almost two years from November 3, 2016. He said that the shootings took place between November 3, 2016 and June 22, 2018 in Malibu Creek State Park. This is about 34 miles from Los Angeles.
Beaudette was 35 years old and shot in the chest. His daughters were then 2 and 4 years old.
Okorocha stated that the two children were named among those who suffered in Rauda’s conviction for second-degree attempted homicide.
Okorocha stated that Rauda had also been convicted of attempted first-degree murder for shooting a Tesla near the park.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office didn’t immediately respond to an inquiry for comment.
The assistant district attorney prosecuting this case stated that the evidence in court was “overwhelming”, that Rauda shot at unwitting drivers and “had an ongoing pattern of stalking campers and preying upon them” at the park. This occurred between 3 and 5:30 a.m. City News Service noted.
The first shooting was allegedly directed at a man who was sleeping in a hammock. Rauda was cleared of the crime.
City News Service reported that Rauda had been arrested for the burglaries in October 2018. The burglaries targeted a local community center and a water district. The break-ins resulted in food being stolen.
Later, he was charged with the shootings.
Okorocha claimed that there were enough gaps to make jurors doubt the claims of the prosecutor.
He said that the jury appeared to have deliberations which were very detailed and careful.
