Man who fired gun 54 times at Fashion Island gets 12 years in prison
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A 42-year-old man pleaded guilty Friday to firing a Glock more than 50 times at the Fashion Island shopping center in Newport Beach and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Mark Gurrola, of Garden Grove, pleaded guilty to 54 felony counts of shooting at an occupied building and two additional felony counts of aggravated assault, with sentencing enhancements for using a firearm, the Orange County District Attorney’s office said.
Prosecutors wanted a longer prison sentence, officials said.
Authorities said that on the afternoon of Dec. 15, 2012, Gurrola parked outside a Macy’s at the busy shopping center and got out of his car, carrying a Glock .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun and six magazines. He fired 54 rounds at the store, prosecutors said.
Frightened shoppers ran and store owners locked their doors as police arrived at the upscale, open-air mall. The incident happened the day after a gunman opened fire at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., killing 20 children and six adults.
Given what happened the day before, Newport Beach Police Deputy Chief David McGill said he was terrified when he got the call about Fashion Island.
All he could think, he told The Times, was “Oh my gosh, here we go.”
Prosecutors said none of the bullets struck the building or people, but a woman and her 4-year-old daughter were hurt as they were pushed by others running for cover.
When confronted by police, Gurrola dropped his weapon and surrendered. Officials said they later found ammunition but no other weapons in his car.
Twitter: @katemather | Google+
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