SLO County Roundup

Atascadero

An 11-year-old boy on Thursday afternoon confessed to firing a gun in an Atascadero neighborhood, causing a lockdown at Santa Rosa Road Academic Academy, police said.

The boy’s name was not disclosed because he is a minor.

The lockdown began about 8 a.m. and was lifted about 9:30 a.m., officials said. No injuries were reported.

About 7:50 a.m., officers responded to a report of gunfire near the 8600 block of Atascadero Avenue, according to police Cmdr. Steve Gesell.

That neighborhood is about a mile from Santa Rosa Road Academic Academy, so police advised school officials to lock down the campus as a precaution.

While officers were canvassing the neighborhood and evacuating residents, the boy approached police on his bicycle and said he was going to school, Gesell said. Officers let him pass.

After an initial lead, police obtained a search warrant for someone they called a “person of interest,” but their investigation determined that person was not a suspect, Gesell said. An officer later noticed a car parked near a home that was empty during the morning canvass and interviewed the residents.

While the officer was there, the boy arrived at the house, where he lived, and confessed to firing a gun on Wednesday and Thursday morning, Gesell said.

The gun was described as a large-caliber revolver belonging to the boy’s father, Gesell said. It wasn’t registered to the father, Gesell added, but to the previous owner of the home.

Police say evidence indicates that the boy wasn’t shooting at anything in particular. Officers on Thursday interviewed him and his parents to determine whether charges will be filed.

— Tonya Strickland

San Luis Obispo

A medical examiner testified Thursday that the victim of an alleged homicide appeared to be trying to defend himself based on a wound to his wrist.

Dr. Gary Walter used the term “defense wound” to describe an injury to Everett Quaid’s right wrist he said was consistent with someone trying to defend himself by throwing his hands up in an attack.

Walter is testifying for the prosecution in the case against 29-year-old Kelsey Lee Morasci, who’s being tried for the murder of Quaid on Aug. 6 in Atascadero. Prosecutors have indicated jealousy was a motive for the killing because Quaid had begun dating Morasci’s ex-girlfriend.

Walter said the cause of death was bleeding due to a sharp force trauma injury, and the fatal wound was a puncture of an artery near the neck. Walter testified that the path of the fatal strike was straight downward from above. Witness Damon Shannon testified Wednesday that he saw Morasci striking Quaid with a downward motion.

Morasci’s lawyer, Tom McCormick, said in opening statements Wednesday that evidence will show that Morasci was acting in self-defense. She has pleaded not guilty.

Testimony from witnesses for the prosecution in the trial will continue today at 9:30 a.m. in Judge John Trice’s courtroom.

— Nick Wilson

Oceano

More than 100 aircraft flew in for a celebration of the Oceano County Airport last weekend, which was attended by about 450 people.

Saturday’s event was organized by Friends of Oceano Airport to show the community the value of general aviation airports, according to the group’s website, www.friendsof oceanoairport.com.

Fourth District Supervisor Katcho Achadjian proclaimed “Oceano Airport Celebration Day” as the second Saturday in May and presented Mitch Latting and Jolie Lucas of Mooney Ambassadors with a proclamation.

Next year’s event has already been set for May 14, 2011.

— Cynthia Lambert