Man Charged With Murder In Fatal Attack That Killed Orange County Doctor

DANA POINT, CA — A Long Beach man was charged Friday with murder in the killing of a bicyclist riding along Pacific Coast Highway in Dana Point on Thursday, Feb. 2.

Vanroy Evan Smith, 39, also faces a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a deadly weapon, court records show. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in a jail courtroom in Santa Ana and a pretrial hearing was scheduled for Feb. 14 in Newport Beach.

He is accused of hitting a bicyclist with his car before stabbing the victim and leaving him with critical injuries at about 3 p.m. Wednesday at Pacific Coast Highway and Crown Valley Parkway.

The bicyclist, who was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, was identified by authorities Thursday as 58-year-old Michael John Mammone, an emergency medicine doctor who practices at Mission Hospital in Laguna Beach, authorities said.

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Orange County sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the corner for a traffic collision and assault.

Mammone was riding a bicycle north on PCH when Smith struck him from behind and then got out and stabbed the bicyclist, sheriff's deputies said.

Bystanders detained Smith until deputies arrived. A knife thought to have been used in the attack was found at the scene, authorities said.

Sheriff's investigators say there does not appear to be any connection between the two.

Smith could face up to 26 years to life in prison if convicted at trial.

The Orange County Sheriff's Department is currently working to learn what led to the attack, and residents with information were asked to contact the department at 714-288-6740.

Residents can submit anonymous tips at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.

No further information was available