SANTA ANA – A man convicted of special circumstances murder for shooting his doctor in a Newport Beach medical office was found by a jury to be legally sane today.

Circumstances of the Case

• In 1992, Elkus was diagnosed with a narrow urethra by victim Dr. Ronald Gilbert.
• Gilbert recommended that the defendant undergo a procedure to widen his urethra and the operation was performed by two different doctors.
• Elkus developed an obsession with the procedure, believing that it had damaged his prostate and destroyed his sex drive.
• The defendant blamed the victim for the “failed procedure” and began plotting his revenge.
• At approximately 2:45 p.m. on Jan. 28, 2013, Elkus arrived at his doctor's office in Newport Beach for an appointment while armed with a firearm.
• The defendant waited in an exam room until his doctor, victim Ronald Gilbert, entered.
• Elkus then pulled out the firearm and murdered Gilbert by shooting him multiple times.
• Other doctors heard the shots and ran to assist Gilbert. They called 911 and attempted to revive the victim, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
• Elkus gave the firearm to a medical staff member in the office and surrendered to police without incident.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.

Orange County District Attorney / Case # 13CF0291 / August 28, 2017