Gun Seized Outside Court as Jury Acquits Accused

A .25-caliber handgun was seized from the purse of an Anaheim woman Tuesday outside a courtroom moments before jurors acquitted the man accused of murder in the shooting death of her 19-year-old son.

The woman, Irene Bernadette Evans, reportedly had threatened to harm the defendant, Adolpho Aguirre, if he were acquitted of her son’s killing. Superior Court Judge Robert K. Turner, informed of the reported threats, ordered Bailiff Jack Quinn to search her if she entered the courtroom.

Evans learned from district attorney officials about the search as she approached Turner’s courtroom and voluntarily told them she had a gun in her purse, according to officials involved.

She was cited for carrying a concealed weapon and released without being sent to the Orange County Jail.

Aguirre was charged with second-degree murder in the July 28, 1984, shooting death of Joey Evans near the Anaheim apartment complex where Aguirre lived. During Aguirre’s trial, Irene Evans was reportedly upset with defense depictions of her son as a cocaine user who tried to attack Aguirre.

Evans said in an interview that she carried the gun because someone has been following her since her son’s death. She said she could not remember if she had threatened to harm Aguirre if he were acquitted.

Evans said she was distraught over the verdict.

“My Joey was murdered, but nobody cares,” Evans said. “He (Aguirre) should not have been acquitted.”

Aguirre testified at his trial that a neighbor had accused him of molesting a woman acquaintance, and that Evans, a friend of the neighbor’s, followed him into his own apartment and threatened him. Aguirre said he chased Evans out with a gun, then fired the gun after Evans swung a large stick at him.

Aguirre’s attorney, George Peters, said jurors told him later that they believed Aguirre’s version of the shooting incident.