Man Sentenced to Prison for Life
in 2005 Santa Clarita Shooting Spree

February 20, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Joe Scott, Director of Communications
Sandi Gibbons, Public Information Officer
Jane Robison, News Secretary
(213) 974-3525

SAN FERNANDO – A 28-year-old man who went on a shooting spree in Santa Clarita three years ago – killing a store clerk and wounding two others – was sentenced today to two life prison terms plus 100 years to life.

Deputy District Attorney Tuppence Macintyre of the San Fernando Branch office said Robert Joel Wheeler was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Ronald Coen before a packed courtroom that included the parents of a man killed by defendant and at least one of the victims who lived to tell about the attack.

Wheeler pleaded guilty Feb. 1 to one count of first-degree murder and two of attempted murder. He admitted all allegations of use of a firearm to commit the crimes, which occurred Jan. 1, 2005.

Macintyre said Wheeler was from Oregon, w here he lived with his mother, but had spent some time with his father in the Santa Clarita area at the time of the shootings. She said that on Jan. 1, 2005, the defendant armed himself with his father’s rifle, purchased ammunition for it and committed the murder and attempted murders.

She said the first victim was Christopher Simons, who worked at Santa Clarita Gifts. Simons was shot in the face by the defendant, who took an item and left. The prosecutor said the defendant returned 15 minutes later and saw that Simons was showing some signs of life. Wheeler shot him again in the face, she added.

Cindy and Stuart Simons, the parents of the clerk, addressed the court, as did one of the attempted murder victims, Alan Stearns. Stearns was shot once in the back by the defendant, who had been trying to break into the victim’s house. Stearns was trying to get the license number on the defendant’s van when he was shot.

The other victim, Randall Price, was shot while looking for recycled material in a dumpster behind an Albertson’s Market in Santa Clarita. He was shot twice in the back. One bullet remains lodged close to his spinal column.

The defendant‘s van ran out of gas at after he fled from Stearns’ home, authorities said. He called 911 from a pay phone and was arrested when authorities arrived. Wheeler has remained in custody without bail since his arrest.

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