REDONDO BEACH : No Murder Charges Filed in Fatal Shooting at Mall

The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office has decided not to file murder charges against a man who shot a dinner companion seven times at an upscale Redondo Beach mall last weekend, saying there is no evidence to disprove the man’s claim that he fired in self-defense.

“It’s frustrating that a person gets killed in front of all those other people and there’s nothing we can do,” said Monika Blodgett, chief deputy at the district attorney’s Torrance office.

The shooting on the patio of the Red Robin restaurant at the Galleria at South Bay followed an argument among three men having dinner last Saturday.

According to police, Richard F. Scarpino, 23, a Canadian citizen who had been living in Oregon, drew a handgun and started shooting at Aum Trammell, 24, of Long Beach as diners and shoppers screamed and ducked for cover.

Scarpino and the other man at the table attempted to flee but were quickly caught by Redondo Beach police. Both were carrying handguns and wearing bulletproof vests. Trammell also was carrying a .45-caliber handgun when he was killed, Sgt. Rick Petersen said.

According to authorities, Scarpino said he feared Trammell was going to shoot him, and witnesses confirmed some aspects of his story. Petersen said police are not certain what the men were arguing about.