Point Loma Hearing For Potential Murder Trial Underway

POINT LOMA, CA — A man accused of gunning down three family members at his Point Loma home -- killing his sister and her son and seriously injuring his elderly mother -- had been getting into escalating conflicts with his sister shortly after she moved into the home, the defendant's nephew testified Tuesday.

William Bushey, 60, allegedly shot the victims on the afternoon of Aug. 21, 2024, at the house he shared with his mother in the 3600 block of Zola Street.

Bushey is charged with the murders of his sister, Laurie Robinson, 61, and his nephew, Brett Robinson, 33. Bushey's 86-year-old mother, June Bushey, was shot in her chest and lost three fingers on her right hand from the gunfire, but survived.

June Bushey testified Tuesday morning that she was on her patio speaking with her daughter when Bushey emerged from the house and without saying anything, shot Laurie in front of her. June said she then ran and was shot in the front yard of the home.

Tuesday's preliminary hearing will determine whether Bushey will go to trial on charges of murder and attempted murder. Bushey also faces special circumstance allegations of committing multiple murders, meaning he faces life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted.

Ryan Robinson, son to Laurie and younger brother to Brett, testified Tuesday that his mother moved back into her childhood home not long before the deadly shooting.

Ryan Robinson testified that he had a good childhood relationship with his uncle "Billy," but said that in the last several years, Bushey had grown distant from his family and became "like a ghost."

Bushey had been living at the Zola Street home for several years when his sister moved in and not long afterward, Ryan learned Bushey had repeatedly gotten into arguments with Laurie, who feared for her safety, he said.

The conflicts led to discussions of obtaining a restraining order against Bushey and evicting him from the home, according to testimony.

At one point, Ryan said his mother asked him to lend her a gun, which he said was shocking because his mother "absolutely hates guns."

Police were also called twice to the home in the days leading up to the shooting, but neither incident resulted in an arrest or emergency psychiatric hold. Tuesday morning's testimony touched on one of those occasions, in which Ryan recommended Laurie and her mother hide all the knives in the home due to the escalating altercations, which angered Bushey, Ryan testified.

He testified that he pleaded with his mother to move out, but she declined.

Concerning his uncle at that time, Ryan said, "He seemed scared that he was going to be pushed out of the house."

Bushey remains in custody without bail. The preliminary hearing was expected to resume Tuesday afternoon.