I...think he overreacted.
Soldier Shot While Allegedly Vandalizing Homes
Lake Elsinore man fired on group toilet-papering houses, police say. Victim was on leave.
By Janet Wilson and Seema Mehta
December 31, 2004
A Lake Elsinore man allegedly chased down and shot a soldier home on leave from Iraq early Thursday, after catching him with a group toilet-papering his yard and other homes in the neighborhood. Aubrey Weldon, 34, a construction worker, was so angry about his Riverside County neighborhood being festooned with toilet paper that he chased down the group in his truck on the 29000 block of 3rd Street, started fighting with them and then pulled out a handgun and opened fire at 12:30 a.m., said Sgt. Earl Quinata of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.
Army Spc. Daniel Alvarado Jr., 25, of Temecula was shot in the head and was in critical condition in Loma Linda Medical Center, authorities said. Robert Limon, 22, of Temecula was grazed by a bullet and was treated at another hospital.
Weldon was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and was booked into Southwest Detention Center, Quinata said. His bail has been set at $500,000.
Investigators were questioning others involved, and authorities said vandalism charges could be filed against those who toilet-papered the homes.
An Army spokesman said Alvarado is an active Army specialist with Charlie Company, 123rd Main Support Battalion. That battalion was in Iraq this summer. A Riverside County official said Alvarado was home on leave.
Michael Lombardi, who said he is Weldon's best friend and owns the house where Weldon lives, defended his roommate.
"It's a damn shame it had to turn out that way, but you have to protect what's yours," Lombardi said. "I'm not saying [Alvarado] got what he deserved. I hope he lives. I really do for my roommate's benefit . [But] don't paint this rosy little picture of innocent little teens. The man lying in the [hospital] bed is 25 years old."
