Shop Owner Wounded in Shootout Dies

An auto repair shop owner shot Monday by a fired employee died today, bringing to three the number of people fatally injured in a daylight gun battle, police said. His wife’s condition was upgraded to stable.

Police said they have identified the dead owner’s brother, Juan Alonso Romero, 22, as the one who apparently killed the man believed to have started the shooting. The brother is wanted for questioning.

The shootings occurred Monday about 3 p.m., shortly after Alvonso Alonso Romero, the owner of El Gato Repair Shop at 1706 W. 1st St., fired a mechanic, Santa Ana Police Lt. Robert Helton said.

The mechanic allegedly took a 9-millimeter pistol from his waistband and opened fire, striking Alvonso Romero, 30; his wife, Elia Padilla, 18, and a nearby customer, according to police.

During the shooting, Juan Romero apparently saw a gun in the waistband of the fallen customer, grabbed it, shot the suspect dead, and fled in a pickup, Helton said.

The names of the suspect and customer were being withheld by police pending notification of next of kin.

Investigators believe that Juan Romero fled to Mexico, Helton said.

“At this point in time he is still just a material witness,” Helton said. He did not, however, rule out the possibility that the brother may face criminal charges.

“Investigators want to talk to the wife and (Juan) Romero to find out if there were any other motives involved,” he said.

Police have been unable to question Padilla, who is being treated at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana for gunshot wounds to her side and shoulder.

Alvonso Romero, who suffered bullet wounds to the chest and head, died about 8:20 a.m. today at UCI Medical Center.

Eight to 10 witnesses were taken to the police station Monday for questioning, Helton said.

Lily Eng contributed to this story.