Pedestrian, 18, Critically Wounded in Shooting Laid to Gang Attack
An 18-year-old pedestrian was shot in the head Wednesday in what police said was a gang-related attack.
The victim, Benjamin Silva Torivio of Santa Ana, was reported in critical condition at Western Medical Center-Santa Ana.
Torivio and a companion were walking west in the 400 block of East Vance Street near the intersection of French Street, when a small pickup truck passed, Lt. Bob Helton said.
About 100 yards away, the truck stopped and the passenger got out and fired a handgun three times in the direction of the pedestrians, witnesses told police. One of the shots hit Torivio in the head.
There was no conversation between the pedestrians and the two men in the truck, witnesses said, and the pickup sped away.
Police are investigating the shooting as gang-related, Helton said. The pickup truck is described as a dark red or maroon Nissan or Toyota with primer on the driver’s door, left front fender and tailgate.
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