Aliso Viejo Teen's Shooting Spree Baffles Police
Christine Hanley
Los Angeles Times
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Aliso Viejo, California (US):
Authorities were exploring Sunday whether the mental state of an Aliso Viejo man played a role in his shooting rampage Saturday but said they might never be able to establish a motive.
Orange County sheriff's officials said they were still trying to determine why William Freund, 19, put on a dark cape and paintball mask and killed two neighbors — a young woman and her father and tried to shoot others before turning his 12-gauge shotgun on himself.
Authorities said that, from what they had learned so far, it did not appear that Freund was under the influence of drugs or alcohol during the shootings. They are not ruling out those possibilities, but toxicology tests will take weeks to complete.
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Other Reports:
Motive Sought in Shooting That Left 3 Dead
Police try to uncover motive in Southern California rampage
Police: Motive For Aliso Viejo Shootings Remains Mystery
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Autopsies completed Sunday on Freund and his victims revealed little more than what investigators already knew about the cause of death. Authorities said they could find no relationships or other links between Freund and the victims beyond that they were neighbors in California Summit, a large subdivision of modest homes near Soka University of America. Freund and the woman he killed, Christina Smith, 22, attended Aliso Niguel High School, although she graduated two years before he did.
The terror began about 9 a.m. Saturday, when Freund left his house on Sunbury Drive, authorities said. He was wearing a cape and a dark paintball mask with a clear face shield and was carrying a 12-gauge Remington shotgun that can hold eight rounds, they said.He drove his car around the corner to Somerset Drive and entered the Smith home. Inside, Freund killed Christina Smith and her father, Vernon Smith, 45.
Christina's 20-year-old brother escaped unhurt through the back door after hearing gunfire, authorities said. Their mother was at work.
Freund emerged and started shooting at a house across the street, breaking a window and slightly injuring a man.
Freund then tried to shoot at a neighbor who lived to the left of the Smiths and had come outside to see what was going on, but the shotgun wouldn't fire. Then Freund walked slowly back to his own house, where he shot himself.
Oct 31, 2005
Christine Hanley
Los Angeles Times
______________
Aliso Viejo, California (US):
Authorities were exploring Sunday whether the mental state of an Aliso Viejo man played a role in his shooting rampage Saturday but said they might never be able to establish a motive.
Orange County sheriff's officials said they were still trying to determine why William Freund, 19, put on a dark cape and paintball mask and killed two neighbors — a young woman and her father and tried to shoot others before turning his 12-gauge shotgun on himself.
Authorities said that, from what they had learned so far, it did not appear that Freund was under the influence of drugs or alcohol during the shootings. They are not ruling out those possibilities, but toxicology tests will take weeks to complete.
____________________________
Other Reports:
Motive Sought in Shooting That Left 3 Dead
Police try to uncover motive in Southern California rampage
Police: Motive For Aliso Viejo Shootings Remains Mystery
___________________________________
Autopsies completed Sunday on Freund and his victims revealed little more than what investigators already knew about the cause of death. Authorities said they could find no relationships or other links between Freund and the victims beyond that they were neighbors in California Summit, a large subdivision of modest homes near Soka University of America. Freund and the woman he killed, Christina Smith, 22, attended Aliso Niguel High School, although she graduated two years before he did.
The terror began about 9 a.m. Saturday, when Freund left his house on Sunbury Drive, authorities said. He was wearing a cape and a dark paintball mask with a clear face shield and was carrying a 12-gauge Remington shotgun that can hold eight rounds, they said.He drove his car around the corner to Somerset Drive and entered the Smith home. Inside, Freund killed Christina Smith and her father, Vernon Smith, 45.
Christina's 20-year-old brother escaped unhurt through the back door after hearing gunfire, authorities said. Their mother was at work.
Freund emerged and started shooting at a house across the street, breaking a window and slightly injuring a man.
Freund then tried to shoot at a neighbor who lived to the left of the Smiths and had come outside to see what was going on, but the shotgun wouldn't fire. Then Freund walked slowly back to his own house, where he shot himself.
Oct 31, 2005
