Irvine Man Critically Hurt in Shooting; Transient Arrested

An argument over money led to the shooting Sunday of a 67-year-old Woodbridge man and the arrest of a transient who allegedly got angry when the victim refused to give him cash, police said.

The victim, who was shot in the head about 8:40 a.m. outside his home on Willowbrook Street, was listed in critical condition Sunday night at Western Medical Center-Santa Ana. Police have not released his name.

Police are trying to identify the suspect, believed to be a transient in his 20s, who claims to be a distant relative of the victim.

Police said the suspect came to the victim’s home on Saturday asking for money, but was refused.

“It is believed that the suspect returned [Sunday], again attempting to obtain money, when the shooting occurred,” Irvine Police Lt. Tom Hume said.

Police searched the area and dog units from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department were brought to help.

The suspect was caught and arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a woman living a few blocks away from the victim’s home reported that she saw a suspicious man in her backyard about 1 p.m.

Police said the woman’s description of the man matched the suspect’s description.

After searching the area, officers found the man hiding behind a wall at Irvine Center Drive and Yale Avenue.

The man is being held at the Orange County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.