SANTA ANA : Man Fatally Shot While Driving Car

A 24-year-old motorist was fatally shot early Tuesday in what police say might be a gang-related shooting.

Investigators said the victim, John David Ramirez of Santa Ana, was turning north on Haster Street from Garden Grove Boulevard shortly before 1 a.m. when shots from another car were fired at his red 1965 Volkswagen. Ramirez was shot once in the chest and was driven by his passenger, 19-year-old Lawrence Mares, to UCI Medical Center in Orange. Ramirez was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Sgt. Doug F. Morrill said it is still not clear which of the two men was the intended victim of the attack.

Court records show that Ramirez was arrested in September for altering a bicycle’s identification number. Ramirez served nine days in the County Jail for that offense and for failing to appear for his hearing.