Covina Security Guard Sentenced to 15 Years to Life for Fatal Shooting at Hollywood Walgreens
A private security guard from Covina was sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison for fatally shooting a man during a confrontation at a Walgreens store in Hollywood more than six years ago. Donald Vincent Ciota, 34, was convicted of second-degree murder for the December 2, 2018, death of 21-year-old Jonathan Hart.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge H. Clay Jacke denied a request for probation and a motion for a new trial filed by Ciota’s defense attorney, Alexandra Kazarian. Ciota’s attorneys had asked for an acquittal, arguing that the case was influenced by outside pressures. Mark Geragos, one of Ciota's lawyers, claimed that the jury's decision was unfair, suggesting that emotional pressure from courtroom activists led to the verdict.
The incident occurred when Ciota, working as a security guard, accused Hart and his friends of shoplifting at the Walgreens. Deputy District Attorney Justin Ford told the jury that Ciota's actions escalated the situation when he ignored a store manager’s instructions and confronted Hart. The prosecutor stated that after Hart slapped Ciota in response to being pushed, the security guard shot him as he turned to run.
Ciota's defense attorney, Geragos, argued that the shooting was justifiable, claiming that Ciota feared for his life after being slapped and believed the situation could have resulted in him losing his gun. Geragos referred to the incident as a tragedy rather than a crime, emphasizing that nobody wanted the situation to end in violence.
After the shooting, Walgreens expressed its condolences to Hart’s family and announced that it had terminated the security company that employed Ciota. The company also pledged to cooperate with authorities throughout the prosecution.
Ciota’s sentence follows his conviction in October, and he will remain in prison for the fatal shooting of Jonathan Hart.
