Man Charged in 3 Slayings Fails in Escape Try

A man charged in the execution-style killings of three employees of a Tustin auto parts store during a robbery tried to escape from sheriff’s deputies Friday but was quickly recaptured.

Gregory A. Sturm, 20, of Tustin was being escorted back to a sheriff’s van after a doctor’s appointment at Western Medical Center-Anaheim when he ran away from the deputies, Orange County Sheriff’s Lt. Richard J. Olson said, adding that he was caught after a short chase.

Sturm was arrested Aug. 23 in connection with one of Tustin’s worst homicides.

Sturm is suspected of borrowing a friend’s .38-caliber pistol and shooting three of his former co-workers in the head while they were bound and seated on chairs. Investigators allege that Sturm robbed the store to support a cocaine habit.

The killings occurred Aug. 19 in the Super Shops auto parts store at Tustin Avenue and 1st Street, which had just recently opened for business. Killed were Chad Chadwick, 22, of Orange; Darrell Esgar, 22, of Huntington Beach, and Russel B. Williams, 21, of Seal Beach. The assailant got away with about $1,100 from a safe.

Sturm had been fired from the store earlier for poor attendence and drug problems, police said. He has been charged with three counts of murder, three counts of robbery and one count of burglary.

Sturm’s appointment Friday was a follow-up to an examination on Thursday for an ankle injury.

During Friday’s exam, Sturm was fitted with an cast on his right leg and was given crutches.

The escape attempt occurred at 12:20 p.m. as Sturm was being escorted out of the hospital to a van by the two deputies.

“As he started to enter the van, he dropped his crutches, appeared to attempt to kick off his cast, and ran. . . , “ Olson said.

“Three deputies immediately ran after Sturm, who was running along a five-foot retaining wall,” Olson said. “Sturm ran across the street and was taken into custody in front of 1027 Lemon St.”

Once in custody, Olson said, Sturm “offered some resistance; however, it was minimal.”