2 Slayings and Attack Unrelated, Police Say

Two men were killed and another was seriously injured in three violent attacks during a 5-hour period in Garden Grove late Saturday and early Sunday, police said.

So far, police believe that the incidents are not related.

Responding to a call at 12:07 a.m. Sunday, police went to Mr. Barry’s bar at 12675 Westminster Ave. and found the body of Edgar Flores, 29, of Garden Grove on a restroom floor, according to Garden Grove Police Lt. Bill Dalton. He said Flores was apparently the victim of a robber.

Investigators declined to say how Flores was killed, saying that disclosure of such information would interfere with their investigation.

One suspect was in jail Sunday and another is being sought in the death.

About 3:40 a.m. police found the body of Dagoberto C. Lopez on the sidewalk in front of his apartment at 12651 Sunswept Ave., 2 blocks away from where Flores was found, Dalton said.

Lopez, in his early 20s, had been fatally shot in the chest, police said. Police are looking for two men seen running from the scene shortly after Lopez was shot, Dalton said.

In the other attack, Dennis Anthony Tong, 39, of Garden Grove was severely stabbed late Saturday night outside the Fire Station Motel in Garden Grove, several blocks north of where the Lopez and Flores were killed, Dalton said.

Tong, a resident of the motel at 12625 Harbor Blvd., was listed in serious but stable condition Sunday at Santa Ana Hospital Medical Center, authorities said.

“It’s usually not this busy around here, but last night was really a bear,” Dalton said. “It doesn’t appear at this time that they (the attacks) are related.”

Police said the two slayings occurred in the Buena Clinton area of Garden Grove, a high-crime neighborhood that has been targeted for city and federal rehabilitation efforts.

A special police detail unit is assigned to the area to help reduce crime, according to Police Sgt. Randy Tucker.

“It’s probably the worst in the city in the number of calls for services, murders and other disturbances,” Tucker said. “It’s a 3-block area of apartments there. Mr. Barry’s bar is across the street from Buena Street, the east boundary of the area.”

A suspect, Jose G. Campos, 25, of Santa Ana, was arrested at the bar shortly after police arrived in response to the Flores killing, Dalton said. He is in Orange County Jail on suspicion of robbery and murder.

A second suspect, known to police only as Joe, is still being sought, Dalton said. Police released a composite drawing of the suspect, described as a Latino about 25 years old, 5 feet, 5 inches tall, with a muscular build and short hair.

The bar was open at the time Flores was killed, Dalton said. He described it as a neighborhood bar on a busy strip of Westminster Avenue near Harbor Boulevard.

“The police went to Mr. Barry’s bar regarding a call for medical aid. When they arrived, they found the victim on the bathroom floor,” Dalton said.

An autopsy was performed Sunday, but authorities would not release the results.

About 10 patrons were in the bar Sunday afternoon. All of them, as well as the bartender, said they were unaware of the incident. One customer, who refused to give his name, said he had been at the bar at midnight Saturday and did not notice anything unusual.

Police arrested Jose Antonio Rodriguez, 34, of Garden Grove and Victor Santos, 31, of Irvine, in the motel stabbing, Dalton said. Both men are in Orange County Jail on suspicion of attempted murder.

A third, unidentified suspect was still being sought in the stabbing. Police said the man is believed to be in his early 30s, but no other description is available.

Tong, who was attacked by three men outside the motel, underwent surgery for multiple stab wounds, police said.