Suspect Fatally Shot in Alleged Robbery Attempt

A 24-year-old man suspected of trying to steal thousands of dollars from a bar owner was shot and killed early Monday by the businessman’s bodyguard, authorities said.

The dead man, whose name was being withheld pending family notification, had been among four people who were crouching next to a vehicle in a driveway near the home of Manuel Martinez, the bar owner, Police Lt. Bob Helton said.

“It is pretty clear that they were waiting for the owner to come home,” Helton said.

Martinez, with his bodyguard behind him, drove to his driveway on Susan Street about 3 a.m. carrying a large amount of money. While he stayed inside the car, the 36-year-old bodyguard, Angel Mendoza, scanned the neighborhood and noticed three men and a woman behind a nearby vehicle, Helton said.

“They looked suspicious, so he drew his weapon and ordered the four suspects to come out from hiding,” Helton said. “One of them shot at the security guard, who returned fire.”

The gunman fled south on Susan Street while two of his partners suffered gunshot wounds. One of the men died from a bullet to the upper torso and the second suspect, Santiago Napoles, 20, of Long Beach, is in stable condition with a bullet wound in the lower right leg, police said. Napoles is being held on suspicion of homicide and attempted armed robbery. Bail is set at $250,000.

An 18-year-old woman, Norma Ramos of Santa Ana, was booked on similar suspicions. She was a waitress at Martinez’s bar in the 2500 block of South Main Street and had called in sick Monday.

Police believe Ramos might have provided the others with information about Martinez’s schedule and habits.

On weekends, Martinez often carried the day’s earnings home with him, police investigators said. After he was robbed in 1994, he hired a bodyguard. He also carried a handgun, and had fired it Monday, but police were unclear whether the shots struck anyone.

Detectives said they believe both Martinez and his bodyguard fired their weapons in self-defense.