Coroner pronounces shooting victim dead

Deepa Bharath

COSTA MESA -- There are conflicting official reports about the death

of a 48-year-old Newport Beach man who was shot multiple times in the

parking lot of a fast-food restaurant in a bizarre, public incident last

week.

Hospital officials at the Western Medical Center in Santa Ana said

Miroslav Maric was pronounced dead Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. But the Orange

County coroner has entered the time of his death as 11:15 a.m. Monday.

An autopsy was conducted Wednesday, officials said. Officials at the

coroner’s office said they could not explain the discrepancy in the

reported time of Maric’s death.

Earlier this week, Costa Mesa police acknowledged they released

incorrect information when they circulated a press release Monday stating

Maric had died after being taken off life support.

Police are not releasing any further information about the motive

behind the shooting. Ramadan Dokovic, 52, of Downey, who was arrested

Friday on suspicion of shooting Maric, is being held in Orange County

Jail without bail. Dokovic’s arraignment was continued from Tuesday to

June 1.

Police and witnesses said Dokovic shot Maric at least two times May 18

after the two got into an argument while sitting in a convertible black

Mercedes Benz parked outside a Jack In The Box restaurant at the corner

of 17th Street and Tustin Avenue.

The Orange County district attorney is expected to bump up charges

against Dokovic, raising it from attempted murder to murder in the first

degree.

Officials said Dokovic already has a prior felony conviction for a

“violent crime” he committed. They declined to comment further on the

conviction.