Two men face murder, gang charges in girl’s shooting death

Prosecutors have filed murder charges against two reputed gang members arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a 9-year-old girl as she played in front of her Anaheim apartment.

Ricardo Cruz, 19, of Buena Park and Alfredo Aquino, 20, of Anaheim face murder, street terrorism and weapons charges, according to a joint statement from the Anaheim Police Department and Orange County district attorney.

Anaheim police said Ximena Meza’s death was a collateral casualty of a shooting that was “gang motivated.”

Cruz, who was on parole, and Aquino, who was on probation, were already convicted in July of possessing a prohibited weapon and street terrorism.

The pair were taken into custody late Friday after authorities announced a more than $50,000 reward for information leading to their arrest and conviction.

The shooting, which authorities say occurred within 1,000 feet of a school, rocked the family-oriented neighborhood in the 2300 block of West Greenacre Avenue.

Ximena was playing outside when a man stepped out of a white car with a gun and fired.

She was unable to escape and at least one round struck her in the chest.

The girl was later pronounced dead at UC Irvine Medical Center.

Residents say the neighborhood on West Greenacre Avenue has been a quiet, family-friendly place, with children and teenagers converging at Brookhurst Community Park to play sports. Police say the area is claimed by a street gang called CKA.

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