Man Claims Self-Defense in Slaying of Ex-Suspect : Dispute: James Hood of Newport Beach says from jail that the shooting was not connected to victim’s role and acquittal in death of Hood’s wife.

A Newport Beach developer, who shot and killed the man who had been acquitted of murdering his wife, said Wednesday in jail that he acted in self-defense.

Looking disheveled in a bright orange jumpsuit, James Newman Hood, 48, spoke only briefly from the San Bernardino County West Valley Detention Center where he was being held without bail. He is due for arraignment today in the shooting of Bruce Beauchamp, 32, of Fontana on Monday. Beauchamp had been acquitted of killing Hood’s wife, Bonnie Jean, 46, in 1990.

Hood said Beauchamp’s death had nothing to do with the shooting death of his wife, Bonnie Jean Hood, 46, at Camp Nelson Lodge which she owned in the southern Sierra. A Tulare County jury acquitted Beauchamp, who said he was at Camp Nelson that night but had left for his home in Fontana before she was killed.

“The situation with my wife has nothing to do with this,” Hood said.

Hood said Beauchamp went to Hood’s office in the Mission Plaza Shopping Center east of Fontana to answer a newspaper advertisement. The ad offered a reward for the return of $18,000 worth of construction equipment stolen from Hood.

Inside however, the shooting started and ended in Beauchamp’s death.

San Bernardino County sheriff’s investigators maintained that Hood was arrested because evidence inside the office did not corroborate Hood’s version of events. They declined to explain what they think led to the shooting.

The bizarre case involves Beauchamp’s brother-in-law Gary Spray, who was arrested on Feb. 4 in Rialto for stolen property and extortion, stemming from the construction equipment that was stolen from Hood.

Spray pleaded guilty two days later, waived all his rights and is now headed for state prison, said Sheriff’s Department spokesman Jim Bryant.

Spray was taken from his cell Wednesday, and jail officials said he was being questioned as part of a polygraph test. They did not elaborate.

Spray and Hood are housed in the same detention facility, although not in the same area.

Meanwhile, a man who was in the room with Bonnie Hood the night she died and was wounded himself said he is relieved that Beauchamp was killed.

“He died the same way as Bonnie, coldheartedly and point blank,” Rudy Manuel told the Porterville Recorder in a written statement. “Our family can finally relax and not be fearful of strange cars in the driveway.”

Manuel had testified against Beauchamp at the trial.

After the trial, Beauchamp told his attorney that he lost custody of his daughter, lost his home and could not find work. Attorney Charles Rothbaum said Beauchamp told him that he was going to Washington state to look for a job.

But Beauchamp and his wife, Sharon, who is also known as Sharon Schmidt, returned a few days before Monday’s shooting.