Update: ‘Act of Obsession’ – Outburst Leads to Delay in Navy Murder Case

Update 3:35 p.m. Wednesday with delay in hearing because of suspect's outburst in court.

A 24-year-old woman accused of fatally shooting her ex-lover, formerly of the Navy, after stalking and harassing him for a year, had her hearing delayed Wednesday because of what a prosecutor described as “an outburst” by her in court.

A mental competency hearing for Vegas Bray will be held July 8 at the downtown courthouse.

Questions about the defendant's mental health delayed a preliminary hearing in the South Bay courthouse to determine whether she would face a first-degree murder charge for allegedly shooting her ex-boyfriend nine times last fall, said District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Tanya Sierra.

The prosecutor in the case, Deputy District Attorney Harrison Kennedy, said the incident occurred "just after 11 a.m. while a witness was on the stand, (then) there was an outburst from Ms. Bray and she left the courtroom." 

At the request of Bray's attorneys, Judge Ana Espana ordered Bray to undergo examination by psychiatrists to evaluate her mental state, Sierra said.

Kennedy said the results will shape how the case proceeds.

"Based on that, the case will either resume or it will be put on hold until she is determined competent to stand trial," Kennedy said.

Bray faces 50 years to life in prison if convicted of murder in the October death of Victor Saucedo, 31. At Bray's arraignment last year, Kennedy called the killing “the ultimate act of obsession.”

The prosecutor said Bray and Saucedo met while they were both in the Navy and started dating in 2010. The relationship lasted for several months and ended late in 2011, Kennedy said.

He said the couple broke up because the defendant was jealous of the mother of Saucedo's child, and she continued to pursue him after they broke up.

Bray committed seven acts of vandalism against Saucedo, damaging his car and apartment, including popping his car tires, throwing paint or smearing peanut butter on his door, and even tracking him after he moved, the prosecutor alleged.

Last Oct. 15, the couple talked of rekindling the relationship, but Saucedo said he wasn't interested in the long-term relationship Bray wanted, Kennedy said.

Bray felt “spurned” and left the victim's Imperial Beach apartment the next morning.

Around 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 16, Bray returned, armed with a .38-caliber revolver, and minutes later neighbors reported hearing a series of gunshots, Kennedy said.

Bray called 911, indicating Saucedo had committed suicide, but investigators found the victim with nine gunshot wounds and a loaded gun next to him.

– City News Service contributed to this report.