Santa Ana : Man Wounded While Seeking His Girlfriend
A Santa Ana man was in stable condition Wednesday after being shot in the chest during a search for his girlfriend, authorities said.
Police said Armando Morales, 37, of 1066 W. First St. apparently went downstairs to the apartment of Charles Claypoole, 68, to look for his girlfriend about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. Morales steadfastly refused to believe that the woman was not there and Claypoole shot him in the lower chest with a small-caliber pistol, according to Police Sgt. John McLain.
Morales was taken to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, where he was reported in stable condition Wednesday after surgery.
Police said that Morales and the woman, who do not understand English well, were in Claypoole’s apartment earlier that day to have Claypoole read them a letter Morales had received.
No charges were filed against Claypoole, police said, although the district attorney’s office is investigating the case. Police are also evaluating evidence to determine if Morales will be charged with burglary of Claypoole’s home.
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