Escondido

Steven Alan Larsen, 30, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Vista Municipal Court Wednesday on charges that he shot and killed an Escondido physician in the doctor’s office July 28.

Bart Sheela Jr., Larsen’s attorney, said his defense would be based on the delusions and pain Larsen was suffering at the time of the shooting. Larsen had seen several doctors for a digestive ailment. The victim, gastroenterologist Craig Blundell, had practiced at Palomar Hospital since 1980.

“This is a real tragedy on both sides,” Sheela said. “There was obviously something terribly wrong. They are both fine men.”

The district attorney’s office is still investigating to see if the Larsen case involves special circumstances that could lead prosecutors to seek the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 22 and Larsen is being held in the County Jail at Vista.