California Judge On Trial For Shooting Wife While Watching 'Breaking Bad'

Prosecutors say Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson shot his wife when they got into an argument.

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — A Southern California judge pulled a loaded gun from his ankle holster and fatally shot his wife during an argument while the couple was watching television, a prosecutor told jurors as the judge’s trial got underway Wednesday.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson, who is now 74 years old, is heard saying on police videos shown in court that he shot his wife, Sheryl Ferguson. His lawyer doesn’t dispute that Ferguson fired the gun but contends it was an accident.

Ferguson had been drinking on Aug. 3, 2023, when he argued with his wife about finances during dinner at a local restaurant and later while watching “Breaking Bad” at home with their adult son, prosecutor Seton Hunt said. At one point in the evening, Ferguson made a gun hand gesture toward her, and she later chided him to point a real one at her, Hunt said.

Ferguson proceeded to do so and pulled the trigger, Hunt said. He was later taken into custody, and in comments captured on a police video recording, pleaded for a jury to convict him.

“I killed her,” Ferguson is heard saying. “I did it.”