Three People Wounded by Gang Gunfire in Santa Ana

A 25-year-old woman and two men were seriously injured early Saturday when they were caught in gang-related cross-fire from unknown assailants, police said.

Maria Corona was in critical condition at a Santa Ana hospital Saturday after being shot while sitting in a parked car in the 1300 block of West Pine Street, Police Sgt. Dennis Rios said.

Two other victims, Charles Camacho, 18, and Gabriel Chairez, 23, also were being treated at local hospitals. Chairez was listed in critical condition and Camacho was in stable condition.

The two men were driving with two other people about 2:15 a.m.. They turned onto Pine Street from South Bristol Street, when the occupants of car following them opened fire, Rios said.

Bullets from a large-caliber gun struck both men several times in the upper body, while a stray bullet hit Corona, who as sitting in another car parked on the street, Rios said.

No arrests have been made and motive was not known. The department’s gang detail was investigating.

Sgt. Don Robertson said the shootings took place about five blocks from where one of the city’s toughest police crackdowns took place last week, leading to indictments against more than 100 people on drug and other charges. The sweep targeted the 6th Street gang members and associates.

Robertson said that “at this point there appears to be no connection” between the sweep and Saturday’s shooting, which is believed to have been committed by a different gang.