A 26-year-old man, Austin Allen Eis, pleaded guilty to 10 felony charges which includes the murder of a 15-year-old boy, Wesley Welling, during a violent crime spree in Ventura County. These events began with an assault on a store greeter at a Walmart in Simi Valley. Eis committed multiple attacks including spitting, pepper spraying and stabbing. Additionally, he dragged another employee across the store.
Following this, Eis reportedly broke into his parents home in Camarillo demanding further armaments. He was armed with a replica firearm and a knife upon entering. Subsequently, Eis targeted a group of Westlake High School students standing on a sidewalk with his car. The collision resulted in the death of Welling and severe injuries to three others. Witnesses reported that Eis accelerated towards the teenagers deliberately. His car eventually overturned after crashing into a bus stop.
Eis later confessed that he specifically targeted the students due to personal frustrations and intentions of committing mass violence. Investigations revealed a history of violent threats, including admiration for mass murderers and adherence to extremist ideologies. Text messages also showed Eiss intentions of carrying out acts of violence over the years. The Ventura County District Attorney referred to Eiss acts as acts of terror and extreme violence. Eis pleaded guilty to murder, six counts of attempted murder, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon (car and knife), and one count of false imprisonment by violence. Special allegations like first-degree murder, premeditated attempted murder, use of a deadly weapon, and the personal infliction of great bodily injury were found to be true.
Eis remains in custody without bail awaiting a sentencing hearing scheduled for April 14. The probable sentence is 85 years to life in state prison. Throughout the crime spree, Eis was reportedly a transient and was experiencing homelessness. The victim, Wesley Welling, was commemorated as a wonderful son, brother, and friend who tragically died on his mothers birthday.
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