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Santa Ana : Police Identify Man Killed in Shoot-Out

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Santa Ana police officials Friday identified a man killed during a shoot-out with police Thursday night.

Lt. Greg Cooper, the SWAT tactical commander during Thursday night’s gun battle at 1805 W. Berkeley St., identified the dead man as Jesus Chavez Chavez, said to be in his early 20s.

Cooper also identified a wounded police officer as Jesus Moreno, 33, a nine-year veteran of the force. He was listed in satisfactory condition Friday at Mercy General Hospital.

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Cooper said Moreno was shot in the left knee by Chavez when the suspect began firing at undercover drug agents attempting to execute a search warrant at his residence. Nine police officers were involved in the incident, which began at 6:50 p.m.

Chavez, who had lived at the home for about a month, apparently had no prior involvement with Santa Ana police, Cooper said. He added that no other personal data on the dead man was available.

A woman and a small child who emerged from the home unharmed after the gun battle did not provide any other information, Cooper said.

The coroner’s office reported that Chavez died instantly from “several gunshots to the upper torso.” He was killed by shots fired by a police officer stationed behind the house as Chavez retreated to the back of the home, Cooper said.

The police spokesman said Chavez’s home had been under surveillance for a week after neighbors complained to Santa Ana police of the unusual amount of traffic stopping at odd hours at the residence.

Before the shoot-out, undercover narcotics agents had purchased $20 worth of marijuana from Chavez early Thursday night, Cooper said.

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