SANTA ANA, Calif. – A 24-year-old man is expected to be arraigned tomorrow on charges of attempted murder for repeatedly shooting at an on-duty peace officer, who was responding to a call. Evan Williams Taylor, Orange, is charged with one felony count of attempted murder of a peace officer, one felony count of assault with a semiautomatic firearm on a peace officer, and a sentencing enhancement for the personal discharge of a firearm. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years to life in state prison. The People will be requesting the defendant be held on $1 million bail at his arraignment scheduled tomorrow, Nov. 25, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

At approximately 9:20 p.m. on Nov. 21, 2015, two officers from the Orange Police Department (OPD) were dispatched to a home for a family disturbance. When the OPD officers entered the home with permission from a family member, Taylor is accused of retreating to his room and shutting the door. When Officer King ordered Taylor to open the door, the defendant is accused of opening the door and pointing a semiautomatic rifle at Officer King, who started to draw his weapon as Taylor quickly shut the door. As Officer King backed away from the door, Taylor is accused of firing a shot through the door at chest level, then pausing and firing two more shots. The defendant is accused of firing the semiautomatic gun at himself, grazing his head.

Taylor was arrested and transported to a nearby hospital with a superficial wound. The OPD officers never discharged their firearms during the incident.

The defendant is accused of possessing three firearms, including an AR-15 pistol, a 12-gauge shotgun, and a Glock pistol, ammunition, light-armor piercing ammunition, and two bullet proof vests.

OPD investigated this case.

Deputy District Attorney Renee Jones of the Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting this case.

Orange County District Attorney / Case # 15CF2621 / November 24, 2015