“I would never want to murder someone else.”
That’s what Peter David Haynes, 25, said Friday as he tried to reassure his relatives he would not come after them after killing his parents in their Point Loma home in 2014.
After making his statement, Haynes was then sentenced to 100 years to life in state prison for the shooting deaths of Dr. David Haynes, 61, and Lissa Haynes, 62, a nurse.
Peter Haynes told San Diego Superior Court Judge Laura Halgren he would not stop taking his medication or ever own a gun again in the future.
Haynes has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, but was determined to know the difference between right and wrong. He withdrew his insanity plea March 24 and pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder.
Despite the long sentence handed down, Halgren told about 15 Haynes family members there was a slight possibility Haynes could be eligible for parole after serving 25 years.
Because he was 22 years old when he killed his parents, Halgren said he might be eligible for a youth offender parole hearing after he does 25 years.
Peter Haynes described his actions as “a war” after hearing from his uncle, Dr. Kevin Haynes, who told the judge “I would be concerned about the safety of my family if Peter is ever released.”
Kevin Haynes noted his brother David was shot nine times on Nov. 28, 2014 after his wife was shot in the heart in their home at 3 a.m. on Tarento Drive in the Sunset Cliffs area.
“Their murders are a tragedy that our family is still trying to cope with,” said Kevin Haynes.
“I struggle with the issue of forgiveness every day,” said Kevin Haynes. “Forgiveness does not replace punishment.”
The uncle said a relative has visited Peter Haynes in jail, but “Peter never once…apologized.”
The worst memory, said the uncle, was seeing the Thanksgiving leftovers in a bag in the bloody kitchen that his father had left for Peter Haynes since he didn’t join in Thanksgiving with other family members the day before.
“Our Thanksgivings are forever changed,” said Kevin Haynes. “That vision still haunts me to this day.” Peter Haynes didn’t eat the Thanksgiving leftovers because he was withdrawing from heroin at the time, according to the probation report.
Haynes was arrested three days before the slayings for driving under the influence of drugs and had posted bond.
His attorney, Mignon Hilts, said “mental illness does not discriminate.” She said Peter Haynes was “self medicating” himself with illegal drugs, which was a contributing factor in the murders.
Hilts said her client was seeing a psychiatrist and “no one saw this coming.” She said he had “unfettered access” to guns in the home.
Haynes had a registered Glock handgun in his name and a gun range card was in his wallet. Detectives found a rifle in his bedroom along with ammunition and a gun cleaning set.
Haynes said he heard voices in his head and they were like “childhood friends, telling him to do things,” according to the probation report.
The shootings occurred while Haynes was outside, crouched in the back yard as he fired through windows and a sliding glass back door.
Haynes had moved to Colorado for college, but experienced “a psychotic break” and returned home, said Hilts.
“He loved his parents. He took the lives of the two people who cared for him most,” said Hilts.
Deputy District Attorney Mackenzie Harvey said the chilling 911 call made by his father included gunshots and how “he begged Peter for his life as he reloaded the gun.”
As he lay dying, David Haynes told officers his son had shot him and he had schizophrenia.
David Haynes worked in a hospital in Yuma, Ariz.
Halgren imposed 25 years to life for each murder and added 25 years consecutively for each victim for using a gun in a homicide.
Haynes was given 925 days credit in jail since the shootings which also includes time spent in a state psychiatric hospital when he was initially found to be mentally incompetent to stand trial. He regained his competency via anti-psychotic medications and was returned to San Diego.
A restitution hearing was set for July 21 in which the judge will determine if he should pay for the funerals or other expenses of the family. He was fined $594. Kevin Haynes said the parents were “kind and caring people” who provided for Peter and his sister. “It’s clear that David and Lissa loved their children unconditionally.”
“We hope no one ever forgets David and Lissa,” said Kevin Haynes.