Man Shoots His Attacker Outside Store : Violence: Corona del Mar resident fires once and hits one of three assailants in the neck after the clerk refuses to call police for help.

A Corona del Mar man shot an attacker in the neck outside a convenience store, after the clerk refused to call police, authorities said Friday.

The incident began when Duncan Halliburton, 34, was driving north on Newport Boulevard near Bay Street and an object hit his car.

He drove into the parking lot of the Minute King convenience store at 2052 Newport Blvd. to investigate, and was confronted by three men. He went into the store and asked the clerk to call police, but the clerk refused, he later told police.

Halliburton left the store at 11:25 p.m. and was once again confronted by the three men, police said. He produced a small-caliber handgun and fired once, hitting Trinidad Magna-Sanchez, 26, of Costa Mesa.

Halliburton then drove to the Costa Mesa Police Department and told police what happened. He was not arrested, and it has not yet been determined if any charges will be filed against him, police said.

Sanchez was treated at UCI Medical Center in Orange for a gunshot wound, which was not life-threatening.

Costa Mesa Police Lt. John FitzPatrick said that while the shooting might have been avoided if the clerk had called the police, it is not against the law not to come to the assistance of someone who needs help.

“It’s a personal decision that someone has to make when an incident is occurring,” FitzPatrick said. “If it’s safe to get assistance, they should do so or be a very good witness.”

The lieutenant said that people are often afraid to get involved because they fear retaliation.

“Times are changing, and people are legitimately afraid for their own safety,” he said.