People v. Valenzuela CA2/2

BACKGROUND

Valenzuela admitted to firing a shot from a vehicle following a confrontation with his former girlfriend (A.V.) on Thanksgiving Day in 2022. The shooting arose out of an altercation that occurred when Valenzuela and his new girlfriend went to A.V.’s home to pick up a dog that he shared with A.V. during their relationship. A.V. was awakened early that morning by a phone call from her sister, who told her that Valenzuela and his new girlfriend were out in front of her house. Because A.V. was recently threatened by the new girlfriend, she immediately called the police. While A.V. was on the phone with the police, she noticed that her two younger siblings were walking out to the front of the house. She walked out after them. In addition to her siblings,

Unless stated otherwise, references to statutes are to the Penal Code.

2 A.V. saw Valenzuela and his new girlfriend. Valenzuela was wearing a black ski mask. She also saw that her mother and grandmother were there. Valenzuela was talking to A.V.’s mother, and when A.V. joined them, Valenzuela approached her and pushed her back. A.V. was armed with pepper spray, so she used it, and tried to spray at the car Valenzuela…