John Chiv: "My name is Daniel. I just shot her."

Jul 12, 2023

"My name is Daniel. I just shot her."

Voluntary manslaughter suspect Daniel Dozier's preliminary hearing started this afternoon and will continue tomorrow morning. Dozier's current girlfriend, Luccille Wetzel, with whom he broke up and got back together was the People's first witness. Wetzel met Dozier in Primal Decor in 2018 where they both worked.

Dozier shot Mia Felder, allegedly his ex, although the nature of their relationship depends on the semantics used by Dozier and who he is speaking with Wetzel or what he told the 911 operator.

Both Felder and Wetzel were Dozier's exes, friends with benefits or friends who saw each other in the past. Most people do not use friends when they are shagging each other.

The key part of today's hearing was the 911 call where Dozier tells the dispatcher he shot Felder. This while deputies are on their way and after the 911 operator tells Dozier to separate himself from Felder. Dozier tells the 911 operator he shot Felder in the stomach with a pistol.

The call starts with the dispatcher saying, "911 what is your emergency?"

Dozier responds, "Yeah, I had a break in my house right now." He gives his address and says it is in Mckinleyville.

911 dispatcher :" Do you know who?"

Dozier: "Yes, her first name is Mia."

911 dispatcher: "Last name."

Dozier: "Yeah last name is Felder. She is like an ex, friend." Dozier denies that Felder is his ex girlfriend and says,"not really gf."

Dozier says Felder was "trying to kick the house" and "threw a trash can."

The 911 dispatcher tells Dozier to separate himself from Felder.

Dozier: "My name is Daniel. I just shot her with a pistol"

911 dispatcher: "You shot her?"

Dozier: "She broke into my front door. "Yeah, she is still alive. Looks like I hit her in the stomach." As he is speaking, you can hear a woman moaning in pain."

911 dispatcher told Dozier to put his pistol down. He said he did on the kitchen table. The 911 recording was 1 minute and 39 seconds.

Felder had not threatened him. According to testimony so far, Felder was allegedly drunk and broke into Dozier's home and refused to leave. Felder had no weapon and other than push Dozier's current boo, there was no physical threat. All we have is Dozier's and Wetzel's claims that Felder was agressive and allegedly tried to break in and throw a neighbor's trash can at his house. The People have Dozier's confession to a 911 dispatcher on a live call, bullethole in Dozier's TV and no explaination on why front door or sliding door to Dozier's house was unlocked and Felder could enter the house twice after she initially left. There was no testimony or rebuttal so it seems Dozier may not have a permit for the pistol or all his firearms. He has a gun safe but Wetzel did not see him go to the gun safe to get the pistol Dozier used to shoot Felder.

Wetzel did not see the actual shooting; she heard the gunshot. She was at Dozier's house but most of her testimony is what she heard or what Dozier told her or what she learned later from deputies. Dozier already had a firearm before he called 911. Wetzel and Dozier could not overpower an allegedly drunk Felder? There is evidence that Felder was armed. Wetzel's versions of events just does not add up. She is subject to recall and could be impeached for prior inconsistent statements. Wetzel lives part time in the Bay Area and may be allowed to testify via Zoom.

This incident also happened in Mckinleyville and has some similarities to the Brian Leiteritz case. Unless some new information comes to light, this is not self defense I am waiting to see Ms. Andrea Sullivan's cross examination of the deputies and to what evidence is presented by defense.

I can hear Mr. Rees' argument before Judge Joyce Hinrich's ruling. "You don't bring a pistol to a shoving match." For those of you who remember my coverage of Juan Ferrer case, you will recall a similar statement by Mr. Rees. In the Ferrer case, Mr. Rees said you don't bring a knife to a fist fight.

Just like he questioned Ferrer, Mr. Rees asked a series of questions to Wetzel which were very effective.

People two other witnesses including HCSO Deputy Jonathan Gomez and HCSO Detective Danielle Vickman. Dozier's and Felder's parents were in court with their niece. Wetzel was subpoenaed by the People. She sat next to Dozier and his parents. DA Stacey Eads was in court to watch the preliminary hearing on the first day.

This was not revealed at the preliminary hearing but I happen to know Felder worked at Kool Beanz Coffee and Ice cream on Myrtle. I interacted with her several times and there are many people who knew her.