HUNTINGTON BEACH : Witnesses Sought in Slaying at Party

Police issued a plea Tuesday for witnesses to come forward with information about last week’s slaying of a youth at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Huntington Valley.

Police said they think that the shooting was related to gangs, but so far no one has provided a description of a suspect.

Police Officer J.B. Hume said many of the teen-agers attending a birthday party at the club Friday night fled after the shooting.

“Many had gone before our officers could question them,” Hume said. “We’re hoping to reach some of these people and get some information. We’ll protect their identities.”

The shooting at 10:35 p.m. Friday killed Canh Van Tranh, 17, of Orange while he was attending a birthday party in the club at 19699 Education Lane. Tranh was shot in the back while in the midst of about 100 Asian-American party-goers, police said.

Details of the shooting are sketchy, but neighbors said the party-goers ran screaming from the club after Tranh was shot.

About two hours later, a car was driven by the club, and people inside fired shots at police. Officers subsequently arrested Jose Munoz and Enrique Hernandez, both 20, on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on police officers.

Hume said police have determined that the drive-by shooting at police had no connection with the slaying two hours earlier.

“It was just something crazy,” said Hume, who added that Munoz and Hernandez remain in custody in lieu of $25,000 bond each.

Hume said anyone with information about the shooting of Tranh should call Detective Richard Hooper at (714) 536-5970 or (714) 969-2272.