Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Man to Stand Trial in Boy’s Slaying : Courts: Patrice Edward Bucknor of Llano is accused of first-degree murder in death of 14-year-old Paul Alsup.

A Llano man who told investigators he feared his neighbors and sometimes “would black out,” was ordered Wednesday to stand trial for the shotgun slaying of a 14-year-old boy who was caring for one of the neighbor’s homes while they were on vacation.

After a brief preliminary hearing in Antelope Municipal Court, Patrice Edward Bucknor was ordered to stand trial on one count of first-degree murder. If convicted, Bucknor, 26, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The shooting took place in a sparsely populated desert area east of Palmdale. Prosecutors allege that on March 24, Bucknor was at first shooting at several vehicles belonging to the neighbors. Paul Alsup, 14, also of Llano, was there to keep watch over the neighbor’s home and tend to their pets.

The teen-ager called 911 to report the shooting of the vehicles, authorities said, but investigators said Paul did not heed the 911 operator’s instructions to remain in the house until sheriff’s deputies arrived.

Instead, investigators said, Paul went outside to talk to Bucknor. A short time later, Bucknor allegedly fired a shotgun blast at Paul’s head, apparently while the teen-ager was fleeing, deputies said.

According to testimony at Wednesday’s hearing, Bucknor told homicide investigators that he fired because he was worried about his safety.

“He told us that he felt that he was in danger from Paul,” testified Sgt. Ray Rodriguez. “He felt threatened by his neighbors.”

The deputy said the teen-ager was apparently unarmed.

“There were no weapons on or near his body,” Rodriquez testified.

He also told the court that Bucknor told deputies where to find the shotgun used in the slaying and that the defendant’s footprints were found near where the shooting occurred.

The shooting took place off 165th Street East, in the driveway of the home of a couple who had asked Paul to watch over their property in their absence, said the teen-ager’s family members after the hearing. They speculated that the tall blond boy died because he took the assignment very seriously and was anxious to protect the house.

Bucknor told homicide investigators that he was afraid of his neighbors because they sometimes pointed at him, shaping their fingers into a gun gesture, Rodriguez testified. Bucknor also told deputies he sometimes “would black out,” the investigator said.

Bucknor’s attorney, Deputy Public Defender Ernesto Diaz, said he may ask for a psychiatric evaluation to determine whether his client is mentally competent to stand trial.

“Mr. Bucknor was truly in fear for his life,” Diaz said. Whether these fears were rational, he added, “is for someone else to decide.”