Garden Grove, CA – A jogger in California has been charged with the killing of a homeless man, an act he allegedly recorded on video. Prosecutors claim that the incident occurred when the jogger, Craig Sumner Elliott, 68, encountered Antonio Garcia Avalos, 40, who was sleeping on the sidewalk, during his routine jog with his two dogs and pushing a cart on September 28.
According to the prosecutors, Elliott attempted to rouse Avalos by prodding him with his pushcart. Upon waking up, Avalos responded by shouting at Elliott to leave him alone. It was at this point that Elliott, who was recording the interaction, allegedly pulled out a handgun from his cart.
Authorities said the video captures Avalos rising to his feet and throwing a shoe at Elliot, who ducked to avoid it. Elliott then retaliated by shooting Avalos three times. Avalos succumbed to his injuries, leading to Elliott’s arrest on November 17.
Despite having a valid concealed carry permit issued by the local sheriff’s office, Elliott now faces charges of voluntary manslaughter and a felony personal firearm use enhancement for the fatal shooting. The charges were announced by the prosecutors earlier this week.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer described the incident as a tragic set of circumstances that escalated in the worst possible way over a minor inconvenience of a blocked sidewalk. He stressed that this case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of taking the law into one’s own hands.
Elliott was released on $100,000 bail. If convicted on all counts, he could face up to 21 years in prison. His arraignment is scheduled for December 15.