A 24-year-old man gunned down a man in Santa Ana nearly three years ago because the victim “disrespected” him, a prosecutor told jurors Monday, while the defendant’s attorney said the evidence shows the accused killer was defending himself.
Adrian Ayala is charged with murder with sentencing enhancements for discharge of a gun causing death and committing an offense while out on bail for another alleged offense.
Ayala is accused of fatally shooting 26-year-old Gonzalo Carlos of Santa Ana a few minutes before midnight on Oct. 8, 2023.
“An innocent man died because the defendant felt disrespected. That’s what this case is all about,” Deputy District Attorney Gerard Gully told jurors in his opening statement.
Ayala crashed the BMW he was driving in the 2300 block of West Fifth Street after he was shot, Gully said.
“This case is about why because the crash didn’t kill him,” Gully said.
Carlos worked in construction and was parked in his car near El Salvador Park chatting with a friend when he was approached by the defendant and another man who were on bikes, Gully said.
Something sparked a dispute that led to a beatdown from the two bicyclists, Gully said. The brawl was broken up by a woman skateboarding by who happened to know Ayala as a former classmate, Gully said.
Carlos and Ayala “crossed paths again” a short time later at Fifth and Sullivan streets, Gully said.
“This is the chance to finish what he started and teach people not to disrespect him,” Gully said.
Video surveillance caught part of the fistfight as well as the shooting, Gully said. In the video shown to jurors Monday morning, Carlos can be seen driving away, pursued by the defendant clad in a blue sweatshirt.
Carlos appeared to be swerving to avoid the bullets, but eventually he is shot in the head, Gully said.
Ayala rode away on his bicycle as Ayala drifted into the collision, Gully said. The two were not previously acquainted, he added.
Carlos had no weapons on him. His mistake was saying something to the defendant that offended him, Gully said.
The victim “had just disrespected the defendant in his neighborhood in front of the defendant’s friend,” Gully said.
When police questioned Ayala he initially denied having anything to do with the shooting and was elsewhere at the time, Gully said.
When an investigator showed an image to the defendant putting him at the scene of the crime Ayala acknowledged he was there but said he didn’t shoot the victim, Gully said.
Ayala’s attorney, Fred Fascenelli, told jurors his client did open fire on Carlos, but he was defending himself.
The trouble started when Ayala and his friend asked Carlos for a cigarette, Fascenelli said.
“He hit him up for a smoke and the driver didn’t like that and a fight ensued,” Fascenelli said.
“Mr. Ayala didn’t feel disrespected,” and did not open fire on the bicyclist, Fascenelli said.
After Carlos drove away he turned off his headlights, Fascenelli said.
“The driver in his gray car drove through town with the lights off just like a shark looking for a second bite,” Fascenelli said.
When Ayala saw Carlos, “In fear, he opens fire, thinking he’s going to be run over,” Fascenelli said.
Ayala had bailed out Sept. 5, 2023, on charges of possessing a controlled substance while armed with a gun, carrying a loaded unregistered gun in public and carrying a concealed loaded unregistered gun, all felonies.