Youth Critically Hurt in Shooting

A 16-year-old Westminster youth was in critical condition Sunday with at least three bullet wounds to the neck after two out-of-state men chased him down a street in Stanton and shot him, police said.

Stanton Police Sgt. Steve Kelch said investigators are trying to determine a motive in the shooting of Joseph Matua at 12235 Beach Blvd. about 6:15 p.m. Saturday.

“We don’t have a lot of information about it. It just happened in the middle of the street,” Kelch said. “It started up the street at a bus bench, but we don’t know what started it. That’s what we’re trying to piece together.”

Robert Monroe, 34, of Chicago and David Ricardo Ramirez, 23, of Austin, Tex., were arrested shortly after the shooting on suspicion of attempted murder, police said. They remained in Orange County Jail Sunday in lieu of $250,000 bail each.

Police are not releasing the name of the hospital where Matua is being treated because, until the motive is learned, they do not want the victim’s location known, Kelch said. He said police do not know Matua’s relationship to the suspects.

Kelch said one of the men, followed by the other, chased Matua down the street. When they caught up with him, a fight ensued and one of the men pulled out a handgun and shot Matua, Kelch said.

An off-duty police officer, whom police refused to identify, witnessed the shooting and apprehended Monroe, who surrendered without a struggle, authorities said.

Using the witness’s description, police found Ramirez, who is suspected of being the gunman, a few blocks away, they said. He was arrested without incident. A .22-caliber gun was found in the bushes nearby, police said.