A gunman was convicted of manslaughter on Thursday, March 30, for killing a transient who was apparently yelling racial slurs at him whereas holding a baseball bat at a Westminster motel.
An Orange County Superior Court docket jury discovered Jonathan Breon Dunlap, 34, responsible of voluntary manslaughter, reasonably than of a extra severe cost of homicide, for the Dec. 2, 2017, slaying of John Nondorf, 37, at a Motel 6 within the 13100 block of Goldenwest Avenue.
That Dunlap, a Black man who had arrived on the motel from a celebration and was inebriated, had shot Nondorf within the face following a confrontation outdoors Nondorf’s motel room was not disputed.
Nondorf was a White transient who often lived out of his Toyota RAV4 together with his fiancée.
Two surveillance cameras captured the taking pictures however not a transparent view of Nondorf’s actions simply earlier than he was killed. That left attorneys, throughout closing arguments this week in a Santa Ana courtroom, arguing over whether or not Nondorf was retreating into his room when he was shot, because the prosecution contended, or if he was charging at Dunlap whereas wielding the bat, because the protection countered.
The confrontation appeared to start with Nondorf ordering Dunlap to get away from his automobile. Surveillance footage exhibits Dunlap close to Nondorf’s SUV as he walks by way of the parking zone; he might have by chance bumped it.
A girl staying on the motel mentioned Nondorf mentioned,”Avoid my automobile,” with Dunlap answering, “My dangerous.”
Nondorf’s fiancée, nevertheless, testified that Dunlap responded by saying, “(Expletive) your automobile!”
Each ladies agreed that Nondorf used racial slurs together with the “n phrase” through the ensuing argument. Nondorf’s fiancée mentioned each side used slurs, together with Dunlap calling Nondorf a “cracker.”
Nondorf briefly went again into his motel room, then returned outdoors with a baby’s-size baseball bat.
Witnesses say a pal of Dunlap’s took a gun out of the backseat of her automobile and handed the weapon to Dunlap, or he grabbed it.
Dunlap and several other buddies had been simply outdoors the door to Nondorf’s motel room, whereas Nondorf was apparently simply inside at this level, out of the cameras’ view.
Senior Deputy District Legal professional Janine Madera informed jurors that Dunlap punched Nondorf within the face earlier than taking pictures him. She denied that Nondorf was nonetheless performing aggressive when shot.
“He was outnumbered 4 to at least one and knew they'd a gun,” Madera mentioned. “He understood he introduced a peewee bat to a gunfight, and he needed out. … You may’t kill somebody for saying one thing you don’t like, even when we are able to all agree it was offensive.”
Dunlap’s legal professional, Cameron Talley, re-enacted for jurors what he argued had been the ultimate moments of the confrontation, holding the blood-stained bat: Talley informed jurors that by grabbing the bat Nondorf had launched the potential for deadly pressure, and argued that Dunlap didn’t shoot till Nondorf “rushed” at him.
The protection legal professional mentioned Nondorf may have merely closed his door and denied that Dunlap punched him.
“Mr. Nondorf is lifeless as we speak due to his personal actions,” Talley mentioned. “This case is a few bigot who's indignant and began this altercation.”
Dunlap faces as much as 44 years to life in jail.