San Diego man faces trial for shooting father 15 times

A 27‑year‑old man in California has been charged with first‑degree murder after police say he shot his 55‑year‑old father 15 times in the father’s bedroom and then returned to the scene to “make sure he was down for the count.” The suspect, Daniel Juedes, was arrested on Friday and will appear in court next month. The case has drawn attention because it highlights how quickly a family dispute can turn deadly and how forensic evidence is used to establish the sequence of events.

The shooting took place in a suburban home in San Diego County on the night of March 12. Witnesses said Juedes had been arguing with his father, who had been battling depression, for several weeks. A neighbor called 911 after hearing a gunshot. When officers arrived, they found the father’s body in the bedroom, surrounded by 15 bullet holes in the wall. An autopsy confirmed the father was shot in the chest and abdomen and died from multiple gunshot wounds. Police say Juedes was the only person in the house at the time and that he fled the scene before the police could question him.

Investigators recovered a handgun from Juedes’s vehicle and found it matched the bullet casings at the crime scene. The suspect’s cell phone was seized, and the police are reviewing his text and call logs for evidence of a motive. Juedes’s attorney said the client will plead not guilty and that the case will go to a preliminary hearing before a judge decides whether there is enough evidence to hold him. If the judge finds probable cause, Juedes will be charged formally and face trial in the California Superior Court.

The case is being watched by advocates for domestic violence prevention, who say it underscores the importance of early intervention. If Juedes is convicted, he could face up to 25 years in prison. The trial will also examine whether the father’s mental health history contributed to the incident. The court is scheduled to set a trial date in May, and the case may prompt local law‑enforcement agencies to review how they respond to domestic disputes involving firearms.