Man Representing Himself Found Guilty Of Highway 1 Drunken Shooting
REDWOOD CITY (CBS SF) – A Texas man was found guilty on Tuesday of shooting at two teens and a couple stopped on a turnout on state Highway 1 near Pescadero while driving drunk last year, prosecutors said Wednesday.
Daniel Vezina, 58, of Beaumont, Texas, represented himself during a non-jury trial that concluded Tuesday when Judge Susan Etezadi found him guilty of attempted murder, assault with a firearm, reckless discharge of a firearm, driving under the influence of alcohol and possession of a large-capacity magazine, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office.
He faces 35 years to life in prison when he's sentenced on May 24, prosecutors said.
Vezina was driving a BMW on Highway 1 south of Tunitas Creek just before 7 p.m. on May 2 behind a pickup truck occupied by two brothers, ages 16 and 19 years old, on their way to Butano State Park, prosecutors said.
The BMW was weaving in and out of the lanes behind the truck and the brothers waved to him to pass but he gave them the "hang loose" gesture and didn't pass them.
The brothers ignored Vezina and continued driving, but then noticed a sleeping bag was loose in the bed of their pickup truck. They pulled over at a turnout to fix it and realized that the BMW was parked 30-50 yards behind them, according to prosecutors.
Vezina pointed a rifle at them and fired a single shot, but didn't hit them or the vehicle. Prosecutors said a couple parked nearby saw him fire at the victims and one of them yelled out, "What are you crazy?"
Prosecutors said Vezina then pointed the rifle at the couple and yelled back, "What am I crazy?" He threw the rifle into the trunk of the car and drove off.
He returned moments later, pulled up next to the couple, and said, "Is there a problem?" and then sped off again, prosecutors said.
San Mateo County sheriff's deputies stopped him near Stage Road later that night. He had been drinking and they found him with a loaded rifle with a 20-round magazine, a scope and 1,200 rounds of ammunition. He also had a loaded .40-caliber pistol, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors initially charged Vezina with two counts of attempted murder but later dropped one count because he had only fired a single shot. Vezina opted to represent himself in a bench trial.
"He wanted his day in court and he got it," District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said Wednesday. "You have an absolute right to represent yourself but that doesn't mean you can't be stupid."
Vezina remains in custody on $2 million bail.
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