Explosion in Santa Ana Store Kills 2

Two bodies were found amid the rubble of a massive explosion and fire that destroyed four stores in a Santa Ana shopping center early Monday morning.

“From (the bodies’) condition, there is no way to determine age, sex (or) cause of death,” Santa Ana Fire Department spokeswoman Sharon Frank said.

Preliminary autopsy reports were expected today.

Santa Ana police and Fire Department arson investigators were joined at the scene by the Sheriff’s Department bomb squad.

Bomb Ruled Out

But a police source said later that investigators “have ruled out a bomb” as the cause of the explosion inside Today’s Auto Parts and Stereo, 638 S. Harbor Blvd., where the bodies were found.

Police are still searching for the cause of the explosion and fire which caused $950,000 in damage.

Frank said authorities were trying to locate store owner Liem Khac Dinh but would not reveal further details. Investigators said they believe that there also may be a second owner.

Police said they were told that the auto parts/stereo store owners may have been the target of extortionists.

‘Not Taking It Seriously’

“We’re not taking it seriously yet,” said Santa Ana Police Cpl. Ferrell Buckles.

Billy Bryan, 24, whose father-in-law owns an adjacent bookstore, said one of the store owners “was getting worried about” threats.

That owner, whom Bryan described as a Vietnamese man named Tony, said “some guys had threatened him. He mentioned they said something like: ‘Pay up or we’ll make sure you get out,’ ” Bryan said.

Cari Penhall, who owns a hair salon, said that after her shop was burglarized a year ago, Tony told her, “Don’t worry anymore.”

‘We’ll Protect You’

She said he added that “we’re going to be here at night, and we’ll protect you.”

Penhall said that she never took the comments seriously but that the man would periodically check on his business late at night.

However, a police investigator who declined to be identified said, “As far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing to (the extortion theory) at all.”

Police said the first call came in at 1:38 a.m. by an officer on patrol. Some 45 firefighters brought the blaze under control in about 90 minutes.

Also destroyed were Tamez Books and Gifts, Care Cutters haircut salon and Bob’s Cleaners, which shared common walls in the complex. An adjoining dentist’s office was also damaged.

The blaze was brought under control within about 90 minutes by 45 firefighters from Santa Ana and Fountain Valley, Frank said. Officials estimated the loss at $500,000 to the structure and $450,000 to contents.