Man Killed After Pointing Rifle, Police Report

A Santa Ana police officer shot and killed a 45-year-old man early Sunday after the victim pointed a rifle at him, a police spokesman said.

Santa Ana Police Lt. Earl Porter said two police officers, who were not identified, were called to an alley behind an apartment complex in the 700 block of S. Euclid Street at 2:10 a.m.

He said the police officers found six men, all believed to be illegal aliens, drinking and shooting guns into the air. Porter said the officers told the victim to drop the rifle when he pointed it at them.

When the man refused, Porter said, one of the officers shot him once in the chest with a shotgun. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not identified “because we have not yet found relatives,” the police spokesman said.

Porter said investigators found a loaded pistol and several expended cartridges in the victim’s pockets.

The other five men, who were not identified, were taken into custody for questioning but had not yet been charged. Porter said he did not know if any charges would be brought against them. He said he did not believe that the men lived at the apartment complex.

Porter said the investigation of the incident would continue and that the police officer who fired the fatal shot would continue patrol duties pending its completion.