Man Killed After Shooting Girlfriend in Struggle

A man who had struggled with his girlfriend for a gun was shot to death Friday, apparently by a relative who picked up the fallen weapon, police said.

Anaheim Police Sgt. Steve Rodig said the unidentified male victim was shot several times in the upper body. He died at 2:20 a.m. in the apartment complex at 2128 W. Brownwood Lane.

Apartment manager Marcie Paredes said a tenant in the same apartment told her the couple had scuffled when the man pointed a gun at the woman and she tried to wrest it from him. During the struggle, the gun fired, hitting the woman in the stomach or chest. She crumpled to the floor and the man then rushed to her aid, putting the gun down.

A relative then allegedly grabbed the gun, aimed it at the man and shot him four to six times. The unidentified relative then ran from the apartment.

The woman, whom police have not identified, was taken to UCI Medical Center in Orange where she was in critical condition after surgery, Rodig said.

Police confirmed the apartment manager’s description of events.

Neighbors said the couple had argued violently before shots rang out.

Hal Keating, 21, a neighbor, said he had just walked to his bedroom after falling asleep watching television.

“I had just gotten into my bedroom when I heard loud voices coming from their apartment,” he sad. “Then, there was a lot of noise and somebody was breaking out windows. The woman was screaming. Then there was a bunch of shots.”

Keating dialed 911 and heard someone in the other apartment yell, “Call the ambulance! Call the ambulance!”

When the gunman fled, he took the couple’s white, curly-haired dog, which later found its way back to the apartment. Neighbors said the dog was pawing the door and whimpering.

Rodig said police “know who did the shooting. It’s just that he’s not in custody right now and we’re trying to track him down.”