Two Santa Ana Shootings Leave 1 Dead, 3 Hurt

One man was killed and three others were injured in two apparent gang-related shootings Thursday night in Santa Ana, authorities reported Friday.

In one incident, Martin Valdez, 23, of Santa Ana was shot in the head while sitting in his parked car at 11:45 p.m., Santa Ana Police Sgt. David Petko said.

Valdez, who was rushed to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, died about 12 hours later, a coroner’s spokesman said.

Petko said that shots were fired at Valdez from two vehicles that sped by his parked car in the 2500 block of South Halladay Street. No suspects were in custody and Petko said the shooting “appears to be gang-related.” An investigation was continuing.

Fire Into Group

About two hours earlier, Petko said an unknown number of suspects fired shots into a group of people gathered in a carport at 2530 W. McFadden Ave., wounding two men and a 17-year-old boy, all from Santa Ana, Petko said.

All three were treated for minor gunshot wounds at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center and released, Petko said.

Wounded in the earlier shooting were Paul Williams, 25, who was shot in the left foot; Reggie Yniguez, 20, hit in the right thigh, and the unidentified teen-ager, who was hit in the right side.

Petko said the two incidents do not appear to be related, but they brought the number of gang-related shootings in Santa Ana to “nine or 10” over the last three weeks.