Clearlake woman charged with murder for July 10 shooting
- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Authorities have charged a Clearlake woman with first-degree murder for fatally shooting a man for whom she had been lying in wait.
Dominique Irene Molina-Dominguez, 32, was taken into custody on Wednesday, July 10, not long after police responded to the shooting, which she reported. She is being held on $1 million bail.
She is charged with killing 38-year-old DeAndre Grinner, who authorities believe may have lived with her at the 16th Street home where he was shot in Clearlake. However, law enforcement has not made clear if the two were in a dating relationship.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Rich Watson, who is handling the case, said Molina-Dominguez has so far made two court appearances but has not entered a plea in the case.
The complaint document shows that Molina-Dominguez is charged with first-degree murder and three special allegations for Grinner’s shooting.
The first, and most significant, of the special allegations is that she is believed to have been lying in wait for Grinner.
Under California Penal Code Section 190.2(a)(15), lying in wait for a victim is one of 22 special circumstances that qualify a defendant for the death penalty.
However, Watson stated on the record Tuesday during Molina-Dominguez’s latest court appearance that the District Attorney’s Office does not intend to seek the death penalty in this case.
The other special allegations are the personal and intentional use of a firearm, in this case a rifle, and special aggravating circumstances that include a crime that involved great violence and involved a weapon.
So far, authorities have not disclosed a possible motive for Grinner’s murder.
In the wake of his murder, friends and family remembered Grinner on social media as a “beautiful soul” who was generous and kind, and a good friend who will be loved forever.
What the investigation has concluded so far
Watson said that at 1 p.m. July 10, a call was placed to police about a person shot at a residence.
Central Dispatch sent Lake County Fire to a home in the 3100 block of 16th Street at 1:15 p.m. July 10, according to radio traffic.
Firefighters staged while waiting for law enforcement to clear the scene and determine it was safe to enter. Some units were released and others asked to enter while one person was reported detained. The fire chief reported over the air at 1:39 p.m. that the person in the home who had been shot was deceased.
When Clearlake Police officers arrived at the scene, Molina-Dominguez was standing in front of the residence, Watson said.
When police took Molina-Dominguez into the yard to speak with her, they asked if she had called in the shooting. Wilson said she told them yes, she had.
Wilson said she also told police, in response to their questions, that she had shot Grinner.
“That was the initial statement,” he said.
Molina-Dominguez did not have the weapon with her when she met police outside, Watson said.
There was, however, a gun located within the home. “It’s still being determined if that was the gun used in the shooting,” Watson said.
When the officers went into the house, Watson said they found Grinner’s body. He had died from what appeared to be one gunshot.
However, Watson noted that a final determination on the cause of Grinner’s death, and how many times he was shot, has not yet been reached.
Court records show that Molina-Dominguez’s record includes a September 2022 drug conviction and a June 2023 conviction for a traffic infraction.
Grinner also had a case filed against him earlier this month in Lake County Superior Court for burglary and receiving stolen property. He had previous cases filed against him in Sonoma County, including one in 2009 for carjacking and kidnapping.
Case progress and court appearances
Based on the investigation so far, Watson — who visited the scene and discussed the investigation’s findings with detectives there — filed the murder case against Molina-Dominguez on July 12.
That was also the day she made her first appearance in court for arraignment, according to court records. She returned to court on Tuesday for the appearance of her public defense attorney and entry of plea.
However, on Tuesday the defense requested a continuance without entering a plea, telling the court they are considering filing a demurrer — which is an objection to a factual point based on relevance — about some of the allegations. Watson said the hearing has been continued to Aug. 6.
Molina-Dominguez’s $1 million bail also was set to be reviewed on Tuesday but wasn’t, Watson said.
Watson said investigators are still working to determine whether there were additional witnesses, although based on the initial scene review it doesn’t appear there were.
“It’s believed that those two were the only two home,” he said of Molina-Dominguez and Grinner.
Also still under investigation is if there was a previous history of a romantic relationship and domestic violence between Molina-Dominguez and Grinner, Watson said.
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