A 68-year-old jogger in California has been charged with the killing of a homeless man, Antonio Garcia Avalos, who was blocking his path while sleeping on a pavement. The incident occurred on the afternoon of September 28th when Craig Sumner Elliott was jogging with his two dogs and a pushcart. According to Californian officials, Elliott confronted Avalos by nudging him with his pushcart to wake him up, which resulted in Avalos shouting at the jogger.

In response, Elliott started recording Avalos on his phone, but the situation escalated further when Avalos threw a shoe at Elliott. Moments later, Elliott pulled out a handgun from his pushcart and fired three shots at Avalos. The entire incident was captured on Elliott's recorded footage, which showed Avalos throwing the shoe just seconds before being shot.

The Garden Grove police responded to the incident, which occurred about a mile west of Disneyland, and Avalos was immediately rushed to the hospital. Tragically, he succumbed to his injuries and passed away. The police statement released that day confirmed the details of the incident.

Elliott, who possessed a permit to carry the weapon, was arrested on November 17th and has since been charged with voluntary manslaughter and enhancement of personal use of a firearm. If convicted on all charges, he could face a maximum sentence of 21 years in state prison, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer expressed his condolences, describing the incident as a "tragic set of circumstances" that unfolded over a minor inconvenience. He emphasized that taking the law into one's own hands is never the answer and that there are consequences for such actions.

Elliott has been released on bail and is expected to appear in court on December 15th to enter a plea. The case has drawn attention to California's concealed carry law, as Elliott had an active permit for carrying a concealed firearm. The law was changed last year after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the provision that required applicants to state a valid reason for their application, such as ongoing threats.

It remains unclear whether the Orange County Sheriff's Department, responsible for issuing Elliott's permit, followed the proper protocols. The department has yet to comment on the matter. At the time of reporting, it is unknown if Elliott has retained legal representation for his case. The Orange County District Attorney's Office has reiterated the importance of not taking the law into one's own hands and the consequences that follow such actions.