Some people are against wearing masks to protect others from COVID. While that may be hard for some of us to understand, the preponderance of misinformation leads some to be steadfast in their commitment to not wearing one.
Some take this resistance to ridiculous levels — we’ve all seen the videos of those loonies walking around a Target without masks chanting and waving signs.
Some, unfortunately, take this resistance to much more sinister levels. Though this story only recently came to light, three men have been charged with shooting up the Sahara Theatre strip club in Anaheim, California, with an AK-47 when they were asked to leave the club for refusing to wear masks. The suspects reportedly got into a red Toyota Camry and opened fire on the club. Four victims — a mix of patrons and employees — were injured in the shooting, Carringer said. The injuries ranged from minor to moderate. Thankfully, no one died or was seriously injured.
The suspects were identified as Edgar Nava-Ayala, 34, Juan Acosta-Soto, 20, and Daniel Ocampo Nava, 22, all of Anaheim, Carringer said. Acosta-Soto was driving the Camry during the shooting, according to Anaheim police Sgt. Shane Carringer.
What’s particularly curious is that this alleged event happened on Halloween — the one night of the year where people are used to wearing masks!
For any clubs that are looking for advice on how to avoid situations like the one that happened to the Sahara Theatre, please read our security advice articles (Dealing with COVID-related rage, part one and part two).
According to NBC Los Angeles, all three pleaded not guilty Monday in a hearing in the jail courtroom in Santa Ana and were ordered to return to court Jan. 4 for a pretrial hearing in the West Justice Center in Westminster.
Nava-Ayala is charged with three counts of attempted murder, three counts of assault with an assault weapon and a count of shooting into an occupied building. He also faces sentencing enhancements for attempted premeditated murder, the personal use of an assault weapon and causing great bodily injury. He could face up to 82 years to life in prison if convicted at trial.
Ocampo Nava is also charged with three counts of attempted murder, three counts of assault with an assault weapon and one count of shooting into an occupied building. He also faces sentencing enhancements for attempted premeditated murder and supplying a firearm for the commission of a felony. He faces up to 21 years to life in prison if convicted at trial.
Acosta-Soto is charged with three counts of assault with an assault weapon and a count of shooting into an occupied building, all felonies. He faces a sentence of 17 years and four months in prison if convicted at trial.
