Youth Hospitalized With 3 Gunshot Wounds Identified

Police on Monday identified a Santa Ana youth who had checked himself into a hospital with three gunshot wounds Sunday night but have not been able to question him about a fatal gun battle about 20 minutes earlier.

The youth, Norbert Torres, 17, was in critical condition at Western Medical Center-Santa Ana, Police Lt. Robert Helton said.

On Sunday, Cupertino Pacheco, 33, of Santa Ana, had just returned home about 6 a.m. after taking his wife to work when he was confronted by two armed men. Pacheco, who was also armed, exchanged shots with his attackers, possibly injuring one or both, Helton said. He died in the exchange.

“Torres, who is a known gang member, shows up at a hospital 20 minutes after the shooting,” Helton said. But, he said, “we’re reluctant to draw conclusions, because we have not been able to talk to the young man in the hospital yet.”

Torres had flagged a friend down at Center Street and Edinger Avenue and asked for a ride to the hospital, according to the unidentified friend who was interviewed by police.

Police investigators have very little information on the shooting.

“Without community assistance and witnesses, we have a difficult task for us,” Helton said.