5 People Injured in Drive-By Shootings : Crime: The same assailants were involved in two of the three incidents, police believe.

Five men were wounded in three apparently gang-related drive-by shootings Thursday and Friday nights, police said.

The Friday shooting occurred about 8:30 p.m. in Santa Ana, when a man in his early 20s was shot outside a 7-Eleven at Pacific and Warner avenues, Santa Ana Police Lt. Dave Nick said.

The victim was taken to Western Medical Center-Santa Ana and was in surgery Friday night, Nick said. Police have no suspects.

Two other shootings on Thursday appeared to involve the same assailants, police said.

The first incident occurred about 10 p.m. in the city of Orange. The second happened almost two hours later in Placentia. Witnesses in both cases identified the gunmen’s vehicle as a small brown car, police said.

“We believe the two events were related and that the suspects’ car has been recovered,” said Orange Police Sgt. Jim Hudson.

In the first shooting, Julio Lombera, 23, Esteban Lepe, 21, Julio Cesar Estrella, 22, and his brother, Adam Estrella, 23, were returning home from a store when a car stopped in front of their apartment in the 200 block of South Cypress Street. Several shots were fired from the vehicle, which then sped off, according to police.

Lombera was struck in the head, neck and chest. Lepe was struck in the head. Julio Estrella was wounded in the shoulder. They were taken to UCI Medical Center in Orange. Adam Estrella was not injured

Lombera was listed in serious but stable condition Friday. Lepe was in good condition with minor head injuries, hospital officials said. Julio Estrella was treated and released.

Although police say the shooting was gang-related, a brother of one of the wounded men disputes the accusation.

David Lepe, 23, said his brother told him that the gunmen had yelled at the group before shooting. Lepe said his brother is not involved in gangs.

Lepe said he and his brother live in San Diego and commute to Orange County, where they work for a clothing manufacturer.

In the second shooting, David Yslas, 20, was talking with friends in the 16000 block of Vincente Avenue in the Atwood area of Placentia when a brown Nissan Sentra drove past about 11:45 p.m. Several rounds from a shotgun were fired at Yslas.

Yslas was wounded in the face and upper body. He was taken to the intensive care unit at the Western Medical Center-Santa Ana, police said. Hospital officials said Friday afternoon that he was in fair but stable condition.

The gunmen fled after the shooting, but their car hit a pole near Orangethorpe Avenue and Van Buren Street, police said.