Man, 94, Held in Wife’s Shooting Death

A 94-year-old Santa Ana man fatally shot his wife of 55 years in their home Thursday morning because he thought she was stealing his money, authorities said.

Santa Ana police said retired barber Edward Harrell shot his 88-year-old wife, Connie, in the face and left arm with a .38-caliber revolver at 7:30 a.m. He had accused her of taking money from $12,500 in savings he kept in a trunk, police spokeswoman Maureen Thomas said.

During the ensuing argument, he disappeared into another room, returned with the gun and shot her, Thomas said.

Police found Harrell standing in front of his home with the gun. He offered no resistance to arrest, Thomas said.

Harold Ross, 62, a 40-year-friend of Harrell’s, described Harrell as a very quiet man who enjoyed playing the horses and kept guns in the house “just for protection.”

Harrell’s godson, Edward Tandy, 24, said burglary attempts have been made at the house several times.

“All he (Harrell) did was stay to himself,” Tandy said.

“I didn’t believe (the shooting took place) because I didn’t think he could do something like that,” Tandy said, adding of the couple, “They never quarreled.”

Harrell was booked on suspicion of murder and was being held at the Orange County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail, Thomas said.