Santa Ana police have arrested four adults and one juvenile in connection with a September shooting that left a 13-year-old boy dead and three other youths wounded, the department announced Friday, Dec. 5.
Around 8:15 p.m. on Sept. 8, officers responded to reports of gunfire in the 400 block of South Susan Street. They found an unresponsive 13-year-old with a gunshot wound in his upper body. Orange County Fire Authority personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.
Three additional juveniles, ages 14, 15 and 16, were also found with gunshot wounds. All were taken to local hospitals.
After a three-month investigation, homicide detectives identified four adult suspects — Martin Eusebio, 20, Joaquin Uvalle, 19, Angel Diaz, 19, and Dan Mejia, 29 — along with a 15-year-old, police said. Detectives determined the group drove into rival gang territory and opened fire on the victims.
All five suspects were arrested on Wednesday, Dec. 3, when detectives served search warrants at multiple residences in Santa Ana and Garden Grove. The adults were booked into the Santa Ana Jail, and the juvenile was booked into Juvenile Hall. Detectives are working with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office on the potential charges.
Anyone with additional information is asked to call SAPD Homicide detectives at 714-245-8390, or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.