Pumpkin Theft Slaying Suspect Ordered to Trial
A Buena Park homeowner who shot and killed a 17-year-old after the theft of a plastic Halloween pumpkin was ordered Thursday to stand trial on murder and assault charges.
Superior Court Judge Gregg Prickett determined there was enough evidence to bind the defendant over for trial.
Pete Tavita Solomona, 47, is expected to plead not guilty at his arraignment on Feb. 22. His attorney said the shooting was accidental.
Prosecutors say Solomona shot Brandon Ketsdever of Buena Park with a .357-magnum handgun on Oct. 18 after the teenager and two of his friends stole the $20 plastic decoration from Solomona’s frontyard.
The friends contended that they had mistaken Solomona’s house for that of an old friend, taken the ornament as a prank, and then driven off. They said they returned to the scene of the theft after an altercation with another motorist who chased them back through the neighborhood.
When the pursuit stopped right outside Solomona’s house, he came out with the handgun and confronted the boys. He was standing no more than an arm’s length from their when car Ketsdever was shot and killed, one of the teenagers said.
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