Run of Violence in Santa Ana Claims 4 Lives

Four people were killed in unrelated incidents during a burst of violence Friday and early Saturday that was among the worst in recent years.

No arrests have been made or motives established in any of the cases, none of which appear to be gang-related, said Santa Ana Police Sgt. Dick Faust. Additional detectives were called in Saturday to investigate the slayings but they released few details.

“The value of human life appears to be very low,” Faust said. “There seems to be no pattern for these crimes. These things just go in streaks.”

The city, which typically leads the county in homicides each year, experienced four homicides in a similar 14-hour run in 1993.

Faust said the most recent spate of homicides “is the most I can recall in at least a few years.”

The series began Friday afternoon in the 600 block of North Figueroa Street when a man was shot while driving his car at 3:54 p.m.

After he was hit, the victim lost control of his car and it crashed into a garage. The victim, whose name has not been released, died at the scene. A male passenger in the car was also shot, but his condition was not life-threatening. The passenger’s name was not released.

The men were followed down the street by a dark-colored compact car. An occupant in the compact opened fire with a handgun when the victims’ car stopped.

The next incident occurred at 11:20 p.m. Friday in the 800 block of South Townsend Street. Cesar Mejia, 20, was found shot to death in an alley near his home on the street, police said.

Mejia had been shot several times. Residents reported hearing shots fired and a car leaving the scene but they were unable to offer descriptions of any suspects or a vehicle.

Less than two hours later, a 37-year-old man was stabbed to death at the entrance of his apartment complex in the 500 block of East Sixth Street.

The victim, Mario Paramor, had just returned home to the Hacienda de Santa Ana Apartments at 1:43 a.m. when he was confronted at the northeast entrance of the complex, police said.

“A resident heard a scream outside their window,” Faust said. “When they looked outside the window, they saw Paramor lying on the ground.”

Robert Hernandez, manager of the 45-unit complex, said Paramor was staying with a family in the complex and worked as a painter. The manager said he believes the man was the victim of a robbery.

“I think he was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Hernandez said. “He was standing outside one of the security gates either looking for his key or waiting for someone to let him in.”

Hernandez said the complex has four separate gates and a 24-hour security guard, who did not see the stabbing. Paramor was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Early Saturday, a 43-year-old man was found stabbed to death inside a car parked on East Camile Street.

Residents notified police at 5:56 a.m. when they spotted the man, whose identity was being withheld pending notification of relatives. He had been stabbed in the upper body and was pronounced dead at the scene, Faust said.