Man Shot Mother To Death Outside OC Police Station, Left Her Body In Church Parking Lot: OCDA

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — A 23-year-old man was charged with fatally shooting his mother outside of the Fullerton Police Department on the Fourth of July.

Emmanuel Messiah Wesley was charged with murder with a sentencing enhancement for the discharge of a gun causing death, according to the Fullerton Police Department.

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According to the Orange County District Attorney's Office, Wesley left his mother's body inside of her car at a church parking lot, where it was not discovered for a week.

Wesley was accused of killing 61-year-old Theresa Jones, police said.

Jones was reported missing on July 7 after she failed to pick up her grandchild and didn't answer the phone, according to Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer.

On July 11, Jones' body was found in the passenger seat of her car, which had been parked in a Fullerton church's parking lot.

According to the criminal complaint, Jones was found with two gunshot wounds to her back.

Surveillance video showed Jones' car pulling up in front of the Fullerton Police Department at about 2:46 p.m. on July 4, which Jones behind the wheel, Spitzer said.

The video shows Jones appear to slump over before a person later identified as Wesley was seen getting out of the backseat, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said Wesley then moved his mother's body into the passenger seat, got behind the wheel and drove away.

"The death of any human being is a tragedy," Spitzer said. "For someone to kill their own mother is another level of depravity. We will do everything we can to pursue justice for Ms. Jones and everyone who loved her."