1 Man Killed, 2nd Wounded in Gun Battle

A gun battle left one man dead and another wounded in an apparent gang-related shooting--the 22nd homicide in the city this year, authorities said Tuesday.

Florencio Villasenor, 22, died of gunshot wounds after being left on the doorstep of the emergency entrance at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, Police Lt. Robert Helton said.

The other victim, Vicente Aguilar, 18, who was shot in the stomach, was taken to Western Medical Center-Santa Ana. He is listed in stable condition, according to hospital spokeswoman Joyce Lowder.

Witnesses told police a confrontation began around 11 p.m. Monday between a group of people in front of an apartment complex in the 1000 block of West Bishop Street. Police have not been able to determine whether the incident was a drive-by shooting or involved residents. No arrests have been made.

A resident of the complex reported hearing a series of gunshots followed by a pause, then another series of shots.

“I was playing a card game with some members of my family when the shooting began,” said Elisa Horta, 21. “We didn’t go out right away and we didn’t see anyone but we heard a lot of shots being fired.”

Horta said it was the second time in the last two days that gunfire had occurred at the apartment complex.

According to the California Bureau of Crime Statistics, homicides in Santa Ana have been on the rise in the past five years with the exception of 1990, when there was a slight drop. There were 59 homicides in Santa Ana last year and 43 in 1990.

Helton said it is difficult to determine whether this year’s homicide rate will surpass last year’s. “During the summer months it could dramatically rise or suddenly fall.”