A convicted felon is facing felony charges stemming from a car-to-car shooting in Dana Point earlier this week.
Ahmad Hussain Abassi, 35, of San Juan Capistrano, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to assault with a deadly weapon, discharge of a firearm at an inhabited dwelling, grossly negligent discharge of a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm in public, being a convicted felony carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle, as well as a misdemeanor count of a prohibited person owning ammunition.
Orange County sheriff’s deputies were called about 11 p.m. Monday to the scene of a shooting at Pacific Coast Highway and Doheny Park Plaza, according to Sgt. Dennis Breckner.
Abassi got into a conflict with another man, which prompted him to shoot from his vehicle at another driver, Breckner alleged. It is not clear if there was a road-rage incident or if the two knew each other, Breckner said.
The other motorist, who was not injured by the gunfire, pursued the suspect while dialing 911 for help, Breckner said. The suspect allegedly fired at least three more rounds at his pursuer, but the bullets did not strike the victim, Breckner said.
Responding deputies tracked down Abassi and arrested him in the area, Breckner said. The weapon, which was thrown out of the vehicle, was also found by deputies, as was one bullet, the sergeant said.
“Things at first blush aren’t always necessarily what truly happened and Mr. Abassi is looking forward to his opportunity to explain his side of the story,” the defendant’s attorney Dyke Huish said.
Abassi is due back in court for a pretrial hearing Nov. 4 in the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach.
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