Murder Charges Filed Against Lake Elsinore Man Accused Of Gunning Down Doctor

A retired barber from Lake Elsinore has been charged with murder in the shooting death of a Newport Beach urologist, the Orange County district attorney's office said Wednesday.

Stanwood Fred Elkus, 75, is set to be arraigned March 1 on charges of murder by lying in wait and the deadly use of a firearm in connection with the Monday afternoon slaying of Dr. Ronald Gilbert in a medical exam office.

"It looks like it was his first appointment," Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy told City News Service. "He tried to make it the previous Friday, we believe; but he couldn't make it until Monday. It does not appear he has any relationship with the doctor."

Elkus may have issues with his prostate, but he does not have cancer, Murphy added.

"Whatever issues he had were not caused by Dr. Gilbert," Murphy said.

Gilbert, a resident of Huntington Beach, would have celebrated his 53rd birthday today.

If convicted, Elkus faces life in state prison without the possibility of parole. He is being held without bail.

According to prosecutors, Elkus walked onto the second floor of the Hoag Medical Group building at 520 Superior Ave. on Monday for an appointment with Gilbert. Elkus shot the doctor multiple times when Gilbert entered the room, prosecutors said.

Other doctors heard the gunshots and ran to help Gilbert. Although they tried to revive him, Gilbert was pronounced dead at the scene.

After the shooting, Elkus gave the gun to a worker in the office and surrendered to police, prosecutors said.

Neighbors described Elkus as a nice man who was anguished over prostate surgery that left him with embarrassing incontinence. Click here to read what they had to say.