2 Hurt in Santa Ana Shoot-Out Sparked by Murder Accusation

Richard P. Connaty, the estranged husband of a Buena Park nurse bludgeoned to death last month, was critically wounded today in a shoot-out at a Santa Ana mobile home park with a man he accused of murdering his wife.

Connaty, 38, was shot in the chest with a .357-caliber handgun by Neal Matzen, 36, about 7:25 a.m., just after Connaty had shot Matzen at the Coach Royal Mobile Park on South Sullivan Street, police said.

Donna J. Connaty was found dead at the couple’s Buena Park home Nov. 24. Her husband had been in the desert with the couple’s three children for the weekend, and police said he was not initially a suspect.

Detectives questioned Matzen “extensively” over the weekend in connection with Donna Connaty’s death, Buena Park Police Sgt. Terry Branum said.

Connaty had been visiting a friend at the trailer park early today when he went next door to Matzen’s camper, said Santa Ana Police Lt. Robert Helton.

Both men were taken to UCI Medical Center in Orange. Connaty was in critical condition and undergoing surgery this morning. Matzen was listed in fair condition.