Gunfight Between Occupants of 2 Cars Ends in Crash; 2 Teens Die

A gunfight between people in two speeding vehicles resulted in a crash and the death of two young men early Sunday morning, police said.

The shooting began at about 12:30 a.m. as a car and pickup truck sped west on Warner Avenue, Police Sgt. Lee Pepka said. The reason for the exchange of fire was not immediately known but “it appears to be gang-related,” he said.

A police officer who heard four gunshots followed the two vehicles at speeds up to 100 m.p.h., Pepka said.

“They ran several red lights. Several Fountain Valley Police Department units converged on the vehicles and started in pursuit,” Pepka said.

The pickup truck driver finally stopped near Warner and Magnolia avenues. But the car sped on and a few minutes later crashed into a tree in the center median at Warner Avenue and Beach Boulevard, killing both men inside.

They were identified as Alejandro Lopez, 19, of Garden Grove and Miguel Contreras, 16, of Santa Ana. Police did not say who was driving.

The six adults and two juveniles in the pickup were not injured, but the adults were arrested. Pepka said “some will probably be charged with homicide.”

Under California law, a person involved in a crime that results in a death can be charged with homicide.

The suspects were identified as Veronica Guidino, 18, and Sonia Guillen, 19, both of Santa Ana; Francisco Flores-Mendiata, 18, Miguel Miranda Bustamante, 20, and Albert Perez, 18, all of Huntington Beach, and Martin K. Gonzalez, 20, Laguna Niguel.