SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was convicted yesterday of the shooting murder of his friend as the victim sat in his car in Buena Park. Jonathan Peterson, 35, Buena Park, was found guilty by a jury yesterday, Nov. 18, 2015, of one felony count of first degree murder, and a sentencing enhancement for the personal discharge of a firearm was found to be true. Peterson faces a maximum sentence of 52 years to life in state prison. The court will hear a bifurcated trial on the defendant's prior prison convictions for possession of a controlled substance and active participant in a criminal street gang carrying a loaded firearm in public in 2004 in Orange County and domestic violence in 2010 in Los Angeles County at his sentencing scheduled for Feb. 5, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-28, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

Co-defendant Jihad Qahir Nasir Jones, 31, Anaheim, pleaded guilty Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015, to one felony count of being an accessory after the fact with sentencing enhancements for prior strike convictions for robbery and two state prison convictions for street terrorism and possession of a firearm by a felon in 2007 and corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant in 2012, both in Orange County. Jones was sentenced to two years and eight months in state prison.

On May 25, 2014, in the early morning hours, Peterson got into a verbal argument with the victim, 25-year-old Antwan Jones, at a residence in Buena Park. After a brief fist fight with the victim outside of the residence, Peterson walked into his residence and retrieved a firearm from a closet. The defendant's girlfriend saw Peterson retrieve the firearm and attempted to prevent the defendant from returning outside. Peterson exited the apartment and walked to a nearby car that Antwann Jones was sitting in. Peterson shot the victim at least two times, striking Antwan Jones in the chest. The victim died a short time later from his injuries. Peterson then got into Jihad Jones' BMW sedan and the defendants drove away from the scene.

Witnesses near the scene called 911 and reported the shooting to the Buena Park Police Department, who investigated this case. An eyewitness identified Peterson as having gone inside an apartment and returning with a gun.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Steve McGreevy of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.

Orange County District Attorney / Case # 14NF2382 / November 19, 2015