Fullerton Man Shot to Death by Girlfriend’s Father, Police Say

A Buena Park man shot his daughter’s 20-year-old boyfriend to death on the porch of the family’s home early Wednesday, police said.

Officer Michael Borregard said Richard Paul Baker, 54, was not arrested, pending investigation of reports that the victim had made several threats and had been trying to pry open a window screen to enter the home on Pyracantha Street.

Officials identified the dead man as Michael Hatch of Fullerton.

Police said Hatch had been involved with Barbara Baker, 22, off and on since the end of last year. They said the young woman was not involved in the shooting.

Borregard said detectives believe that the couple quarreled Tuesday and that she had broken off the relationship. He said she went to her parents’ house and was inside at the time of the the 1 a.m. shooting Wednesday.

Tried to Pry Off Screen

Detectives said her father repeatedly told Hatch to leave, then apparently shot him once in the face as he tried to pry a screen off a front window. Police recovered a .38-caliber revolver at the scene.

Police Lt. Richard Hafdahl said the daughter had been seeing the man since “the end of last year. They’ve been dating off and on for a while, apparently.”

Borregard said the district attorney’s office will review the case to determine whether to file charges.

Neighbors said they were surprised that a shooting took place in their normally quiet area.

Cindy Braddock, mother of three small children, said: “This is the first (shooting) ever, as far as I know. . . . It’s a good neighborhood.”

Braddock said she and her husband were unaware of the shooting until they saw a coroner’s vehicle parked in front of the Baker house.

Times staff writer Lonn Johnston contributed to this story.