Shots Near Home of Witness to 2 Slayings Blamed on Gang

Police said Friday that shots fired in front of the house of a murder witness probably was a local gang’s attempt to discourage the person from testifying in court.

But Irene Fernandez, 20, said she will not be intimidated.

“If they are trying to stop me from going to court, it won’t work,” Fernandez said Friday.

Fernandez is a witness against three gang members suspected of killing her 4-year-old nephew and a teen-age boy.

On Sept. 16 of last year, gunmen thought to be members of Garden Grove’s 5th Street gang sprayed gunfire into a group of people standing in front of Fernandez’s house. Her nephew, Frank Fernandez Jr., 4, and Miguel (Smokey) Navarro III, 17, a member of Santa Ana’s 17th Street gang, were killed.

Last week, Fernandez testified at the preliminary hearing for the gang members being held in connection with the murders of the boy and Navarro.

The suspects, Louis Palomino Valdez, Roman Gabriel Menchaca and Robert Phillip Figueroa, were ordered Tuesday to stand trial in Orange County Superior Court for two counts each of murder, eight counts each of attempted murder and one count each of conspiracy to commit murder.

On Thursday, a car parked in front of Fernandez’s house was hit by four bullets. Garden Grove Police Sgt. Phil Mason said investigators believe the incident is linked to her court appearance.

Because of Thursday’s shooting, officers have been ordered to patrol the area more frequently, Mason said.

Members of the 5th Street gang were arrested three months ago on suspicion of intimidating other witnesses in the same case, Orange County Deputy Dist. Atty. Thomas Avdeef said.

“If police are successful in making arrests, we will take swift and appropriate action. We can’t allow this to fester. Intimidating a witness will not be tolerated,” Avdeef declared.

Mason said that because there were no witnesses to Thursday’s shooting, arrests are unlikely.