DA: Suspect in Clearlake Oaks shooting spree could face death penalty
- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Clearlake Oaks man who on Monday killed two people and wounded two others, including a California Highway Patrol officer, will face charges that will make him eligible for the death penalty, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Alan Leroy Ashmore, 61, was arrested Monday for a shooting rampage that occurred across numerous locations in Clearlake Oaks.
The shootings claimed the life of his 85-year-old father, Douglas Ashmore, as well as his longtime friend, 64-year-old Richard Eugene Braden, and wounded California Highway Patrol Officer Steven Patrick and a 22-year-old Middletown woman whose name has not been released.
Ashmore is expected to make his first appearance in the case in Lake County Superior Court when he’s arraigned on Wednesday, according to Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff.
Hinchcliff said he is charging Ashmore with two counts of first-degree murder, along with a special allegation of committing multiple murders.
It’s that special allegation that Hinchcliff said will make Ashmore eligible for the death penalty or for a sentence of life without the possibility of parole if he is convicted of the charges.
Ashmore also will be charged with the attempted murder of a peace officer for shooting Officer Patrick, assault with a firearm with great bodily injury for shooting the Middletown woman, arson and burglary, and more minor charges including negligent discharge of a firearm, Hinchcliff said.
Officer Patrick, an 11-year CHP veteran, was involved in the pursuit to capture Ashmore, the CHP said.
The CHP said Patrick was struck in the abdomen but escaped serious injury thanks to his bulletproof vest taking the force of the shotgun slug Ashmore fired at him.
Ashmore’s shooting spree took place at numerous locations in and around Clearlake Oaks, including Anchor Village in the Clearlake Keys and the Chevron gas station. He also robbed the Power Mart gas station and brandished a firearm at an individual at Brassfield Winery.
Ashmore also set two small fires – which Cal Fire Battalion Chief Sean O’Hara said totaled less than two and a half acres – along High Valley Road as he attempted to flee.
On Tuesday, Hinchcliff estimated the number of crime scenes had grown to 11, based on each location around Clearlake Oaks where Ashmore committed the numerous crimes.
Authorities captured him shortly after noon on Monday following a four-mile chase that ended when he encountered a roadblock set up at the intersection of Bartlett Springs Road and High Valley Road, the sheriff’s office said.
On Tuesday, officials with the sheriff’s office and the District Attorney’s Office indicated that the investigation was still in its early stages, with a great deal of work ahead.
Hinchcliff said all of the investigators involved in the case met for a Tuesday briefing.
“There’s still a lot of work to be done, a lot of investigation to be done,” said Hinchcliff.
Many different agencies are involved and they’re working well together, he said.
Hinchcliff said that they had accomplished a lot so far, considering the shooting had only happened the previous day.
“Everything has gone really good so far,” he said.
Hinchcliff on Tuesday didn’t yet have reports from the sheriff’s office on the incident. However, he had enough information to begin the process of filing charges against Ashmore, explaining that additional charges could be added as more aspects of the investigation are completed.
He said District Attorney Don Anderson plans to handle prosecuting the case himself.
For a small county, “It’s a big project,” Hinchcliff said of the case. “It’s just going to take a little bit of time.”
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