SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was convicted today of the shooting-murder of his parents and attempting to murder two of his siblings, causing the paralysis of his 8-year-old brother. Ashton Colby Sachs, 22,pleaded guilty today at his request and without a previously scheduled hearing to two felony counts of special circumstances murder for committing multiple murders, two felony counts of attempted murder with premeditation and deliberation, and sentencing enhancements for the personal use of a firearm causing death, personal use of a firearm causing bodily injury, and causing paralysis. The defendant faces a sentence of life in state prison without the possibility of parole and is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 14, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-35, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

At the time of the crime, Ashton Sachs was living in Seattle. Ashton Sachs returned to Orange County with the intention of murdering his family. In the early morning hours of Feb. 9, 2014, he entered his family's San Juan Capistrano home armed with a firearm.

The defendant entered his parents' bedroom and shot and murdered his 54-year-old mother Andra Sachs and 57-year-old father Bradford Sachs as they slept.

Ashton Sachs entered the bedroom of his 8-year-old brother then shot and attempted to murder the victim. The 8-year-old boy survived, but was paralyzed by the shooting.

Two of Ashton Sachs' sisters were also in the home at the time of the crime. Ashton Sachs shot at and attempted to murder his 17-year-old sister, but this victim was not struck.

Ashton Sachs fled the scene and returned to Seattle.

The Orange County Sheriff's Department investigated this case and arrested the defendant on March 6, 2014.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Mike Murray of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.

Orange County District Attorney / Case #14ZF0333 / September 20, 2016