Donald Joshua Ratzlaff, a 41-year-old resident of Huntington Beach, was tragically shot to death on July 31, 2022. The incident occurred early in the morning at an Arco gas station located at 10975 Edinger Ave., in Fountain Valley. Initially, Westminster police officers responded to reports of gunshots at an apartment complex on the 15200 block of Magnolia Street at around 4:10 a.m. However, upon arrival, they found no evidence of a shooting and cleared the call. Approximately twenty minutes later, Fountain Valley police were alerted to a gunshot victim found in a white van at the Arco gas station. The victim was identified as Ratzlaff, and the driver of the van had fled the scene before the police arrived.
Investigations revealed that the shooting likely took place at the Westminster apartment complex following an argument. Neighbors reported hearing gunshots and seeing a van leave the area shortly after. The suspect, identified as 39-year-old Matthew Francisco Mattice, was arrested on suspicion of murder a few days later at a Travelodge motel in Costa Mesa. Mattice was charged with murder, including an enhancement for the personal use of a firearm, and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was held on $1 million bail, with a court appearance scheduled shortly after his arrest.
Ratzlaff had a lengthy criminal history, which included convictions for assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, attempted solicitation to commit a crime, and gang activity. His criminal record dated back to 1997 and included various offenses such as petty theft, burglary, possession of stolen property, and car theft. Despite his past, the circumstances surrounding his death were tragic and underscored the violent nature of the incident.
The investigation into Ratzlaff's death involved multiple law enforcement agencies working together to piece together the events leading up to the shooting. Detectives from both Westminster and Fountain Valley police departments collaborated to connect the initial reports of gunshots at the apartment complex with the discovery of Ratzlaff's body in the van. The case highlighted the importance of community cooperation and the efforts of law enforcement to bring those responsible for such violent acts to justice.
