Suspect held in Orinda shooting investigation in court on gun charge

MARTINEZ >> A 29-year-old man who was arrested in connection with the Orinda shooting on Thursday but charged only with possessing a gun and ammunition the day of his arrest pleaded not guilty at his first court appearance Monday.

Domico Dones, of Martinez, appeared briefly in a courtroom holding cell Monday morning, where he viewed the proceedings through bars.

He did not speak, but his attorney told the judge Dones is pleading not guilty and denying the charges against him.

Dones was arrested Thursday as part of the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s investigation into the Halloween night shooting at 114 Lucille

Way in Orinda, which left five people dead and at least nine others injured. Authorities have refused to disclosed how Dones’ name came up in the investigation, and so far no charges have been filed against him in connection with the shooting.

Dones’ attorney, Brooks Osborne, said in court Monday that Dones was refusing to waive his right to a preliminary hearing within 60 days, where a judge will review evidence in the case and determine whether the charges should stick. Dones’ preliminary hearing has been tentatively set for Dec. 10, in front of Judge Theresa Canepa in the A.F. Bray Courthouse in Martinez.

Dones remains in custody in lieu of $300,000 bail. Another man arrested in connection with the investigation Thursday, Frederick

Johnson, is facing a gun possession charge in Solano County. In both Dones’ and Johnson’s cases, the charges relate to weapons allegedly found on the defendants during police raids, not anything connected to the Orinda shooting.

In a news release about the arrests, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms said that guns seized during the raids had been linked to other shootings, but did not offer specifics.

So far, no one has been charged in connection with the Orinda shooting. A week ago, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s office declined to charge five other suspects who were arrested in a series of raids related to the shooting.