Killing Suspect Arrested in Spree

By Crystal Carreon and Christina Jewett, The Sacramento Bee, Calif.

Mar. 29–Aaron Norman Dunn drove to Elk Grove on Saturday night, allegedly armed with a 12-gauge shotgun and loaded on methamphetamine. He knew no one in town, say those closest to him, but had heard about a man there who knew his estranged wife.

Once in town, the gunman opened fire. Minutes later, one man was dead, another was critically wounded and a third shot before deputies stopped the 28-year-old Dunn with several gunshots to his chest. Two other bystanders were injured earlier by debris.

On Tuesday, Dunn, who survived the shooting, was arrested on suspicion of murder and faced a host of other counts in connection with the apparently random rampage that shocked the growing suburb south of Sacramento.

He remained in the intensive care unit at UC Davis Medical Center after surgery, while detectives continued to piece together why the Yuba City man ended up in Elk Grove.

Sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. R.L. Davis said detectives had interviewed Dunn’s wife and other family members but were trying to “look at the big picture” – drugs, a possible suicide by cop, any purported ties to Elk Grove.

Elk Grove Police Chief Bob Simmons told The Bee that Dunn’s estranged wife “had a relationship” with someone in Elk Grove, but he would not elaborate further. “The extent of the relationship, we don’t have that,” Davis said. “Until we talk to him, we don’t know what his motivation was.”

On another floor at the medical center, relatives and friends held a vigil Tuesday for Michael Daly, one of the shooting victims. Daly, a 45-year-old Xerox salesman, was shot in the head in front of his children and wife. He remained in critical condition Tuesday afternoon. His family has asked for privacy.

A second shooting victim was released from the hospital Monday. The Sheriff’s Department has not released the 47-year-old man’s name, saying he also had asked for privacy.

A third victim, John Johnson, 46, was shot to death near his wife after their dinner date.

According to authorities, Dunn knew none of his victims when he opened fire along Laguna Boulevard. But his brother and a close friend said Dunn was aware that his wife had started a relationship with an Elk Grove man.

“Aaron wasn’t mad about it, just hurt,” said Patrick Dunn, 26, who last saw his brother earlier Saturday. “How it turned to anger, I don’t know.”

Patrick Dunn said his brother and his wife, Sara, recently separated after a seven-or eight-year relationship. They have a 5-year-old daughter.

Sara Dunn declined to speak with a reporter Tuesday.

Nancy Castillo, a close family friend, said Aaron Dunn had starting using methamphetamine about six months ago and recently was injecting about $60 worth of the drug into his veins everyday. He had grown increasingly distraught, she said, after separating from his wife. He also lost his job as an electrician.

“He had nothing to live for anymore,” Castillo said.

A few weeks ago, Castillo said, Aaron Dunn had moved into the home she shared with his brother. She said Dunn confided that he knew his wife had met someone in Elk Grove.

“His daughter tells him she was playing in the park with (the man),” Castillo said. “He came to me crying. That really flipped him out.”

But Dunn’s sister Sarah said her sister-in-law was not having an affair.

“That’s a big, huge mix-up,” she said.

And it recently appeared that the couple were trying to reconcile. Just two weeks ago, Aaron and Sara came together for a visit, said Patrick Dunn.

“They were working on getting back together,” he said, “and still had a 50-50 chance.”

But on Saturday, Aaron Dunn arrived at his brother’s Olivehurst home apparently high on methamphetamine and not having slept for days, Patrick Dunn said.

“I know he shot up Saturday,” the brother said. “I tried to tell him to get some rest, put the drugs aside. He told me that’s his way to escape so he wouldn’t have to think about his daughter and his wife.”

Aaron Dunn then left the house.

Hours later, relatives recognized his car on the television news. They had heard a message he had left on his sister Sarah’s cell phone: “I just wanted to tell you I love you,” he reportedly said. “I’m tired of the lies, and I’ll love you to the end.”

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Sacramento Bee, Calif.

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