Help Asked in Finding Slaying Suspect

Police are asking the public’s help in the search for a 28-year-old Santa Ana man suspected of gunning down a rival after a fistfight at a weekend party, officials said Thursday.

Authorities have issued a murder warrant for Sergio Bernardino Sorroza in connection with the slaying of a 26-year-old local man, Santa Ana Police Sgt. Bob Clark said.

Witnesses told police that Sorroza challenged Rafael Gallo of Santa Ana to a fistfight when he confronted the victim at a party early Sunday, Clark said. The two fought.

Sorroza, who lost the fight, allegedly promised to return with a gun as he left the party in the 100 block of South Halladay Street, Clark said.

Investigators allege that Sorroza returned within 20 minutes with a handgun and found Gallo beneath a stairwell, where he was helping with the party clean-up, police said.

The victim attempted to flee, but was shot and wounded. Witnesses said the gunman then walked toward the fallen Gallo and shot him two more times, Clark said.

“This one is about as coldblooded as it gets,” Clark said. “This guy lost the fair fight and decided he would win another way. Sadly, he did.”

Gallo died from his injuries Wednesday at Western Medical Center-Santa Ana.

Sorroza is known to frequent the area of Standard Avenue and Walnut Street.

He uses the alias Felipe Cisneros, Clark said, and is considered armed and dangerous.

Police described the suspect as a Latino man, 5 feet, 3 inches tall, weighing 170 pounds, with short, curly, black hair and brown eyes.

Investigators asked that anyone with information about the shooting or the suspect contact Santa Ana detectives at (714) 647-5112.