1 Customer Killed, 2 Wounded as Gunman Opens Fire in Bar

An unidentified man opened fire in a Costa Mesa bar early Saturday, killing one person and wounding two others, authorities said.

The man, armed with a handgun, entered Hussong’s Cantina at Monrovia Avenue and 19th Street at 1:55 a.m. and began shooting at three customers, Costa Mesa Police Lt. Alan Kent said.

One of the victims was shot repeatedly in the head and was dead on arrival at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, Kent said. The victim’s name was not released pending notification of relatives.

The names of the wounded customers were also not released. One reportedly was in stable condition at Hoag with gunshot wounds to the stomach. The other was in critical condition at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center. The extent of his injuries was not immediately known.

The suspect was described as a Latino in his late 30s, 5 feet, 5 inches tall with dark, wavy hair, wearing a long-sleeve shirt and dark pants. He ran from the bar in a tiny corner shopping center, Kent said. The motive for the attack is unknown, he said.