2 Killed in Separate, Possibly Gang-Related Shootings : Crime: Man dies after drive-by attack; body of another is found outside convenience store. Police believe victims, both of Santa Ana, were gang members.

A 22-year-old man was shot and killed and two others injured when occupants of a car carrying suspected gang members opened fire on a group of party-goers standing outside a house on a residential street here, police said Sunday.

In an unrelated incident, a suspected gang member was gunned down outside a 7-Eleven convenience store here, police said.

The man who died after the drive-by shooting was identified as Buddy Sifuentes of Santa Ana, Sgt. Jim McDaniel said.

McDaniel said Sifuentes was with a group of 10 party-goers who were standing outside a house on the 200 block of South Hickory Street at 11:55 p.m. Saturday when suspected gang members drove up to the group and inquired whether they were affiliated with a gang.

McDaniel said an occupant of the car asked, “Who do you claim?”

Someone in the crowd shouted “nobody,” but the occupants of the car still opened fire before speeding away, police said.

In the burst of gunfire, Sifuentes was struck several times in the upper body and died at the scene, McDaniel said. Two other bystanders who suffered minor gunshot wounds were taken to separate hospitals by their friends. Their names were not immediately available, McDaniel said.

McDaniel said Sifuentes was listed as a suspected gang member in police gang files. An investigation into his slaying is continuing, the sergeant said.

About two hours after the drive-by shooting, Santa Ana police were called out to another shooting that occurred in front of a 7-Eleven at 2745 W. McFadden Ave.

On arriving at the convenience store, police discovered the body of Jesse Kennedy, 22, of Santa Ana, near the store’s front door. He had been shot several times in the chest, McDaniel said.

Employees of the store called police after they discovered Kennedy’s body, McDaniel said. A motive for the killing was not known.

McDaniel said Kennedy was a suspected member of a Santa Ana street gang.