Young Man Dies in Shooting; Gang Rivalry Blamed

A young man was shot and killed Tuesday, apparently by a rival gang member, as he stood on the sidewalk of a residential neighborhood, authorities said.

The shooting occurred about 6:20 p.m. at the corner of Myrtle and Baker streets, Santa Ana Police Sgt. Bob Clark said.

The victim’s name and age were not released. Authorities said he was standing on the southwest corner of the intersection when a car drove past and a passenger jumped out and shot him in the chest and neck at close range. The attacker then ran back to the car, which sped away.

Simone Placentia said she was inside her home with her children when she heard the shooting.

“I heard the gunfire,” Placentia said. “I was running out when a neighbor said: ‘Call the paramedics. They shot someone.’ By the time I got out there, there was a crowd around him.”

She said the victim had been helping her next-door neighbors clean their house.

An officer at the scene of the shooting said the victim was a known gang member.

“The two gangs have been fighting recently,” said the officer, who requested anonymity.

Residents of the area said that several gang members have been known to loiter on the streets but that there have not been many gang-related problems.

Times staff writer Lanie Jones contributed to this story.