Santa Ana Identifies Year’s 31st Gang Slaying Victim : Crime: With almost four months left, the city is within three killings of its 1991 homicide record.

Police on Friday identified a 19-year-old man who was killed in a drive-by shooting in the 31st gang-related homicide in the city this year.

Roberto Hernandez of Santa Ana was walking with a friend in the 1300 block of North Ross Street about 7:30 p.m. Thursday when the shooting occurred, said Santa Ana police Sgt. Dick Faust.

“A vehicle occupied by four or five gang members stopped near them and confronted the victim about his gang membership,” Faust said. “One of the gang members in the car then pulled out an unknown type of handgun and fired about five shots.”

Hernandez was hit by three of the bullets, twice in the side of the body and once in the head. He was taken to Western Medical Center-Santa Ana and died a short time later.

Hernandez’s friend fled the shooting without being hit, and there were no other injuries. The gang members fled in a dark car and no arrests have been made, Faust said.

Santa Ana appears headed for its deadliest year on record.

The shooting was the 56th homicide in Santa Ana so far in 1993, nearly equaling last year’s total of 58 homicides and only three behind the city record of 59 slayings in 1991.

Police said they are looking for witnesses to the crime. Anyone with information is asked to call Santa Ana police investigator Matt Craig at (714) 647-5165.