Santa Ana Woman Shot During Traffic Dispute
- Share via
SANTA ANA — A 22-year-old Santa Ana woman was shot in the face during a traffic dispute with a car filled with suspected gang members, police said Monday.
Visel Mercado, 22, and her husband, Juan, were driving north on Main Street at 9 p.m. Sunday when four people in another car pulled up next to them and yelled at them about a lane change, Santa Ana Lt. Bob Chavez said.
The argument continued for several blocks until both cars reached the 2200 block of Main Street where the driver of the second car pulled out a gun, Chavez said. One round was fired at the passenger side of the Mercados’ car, striking her wrist and then lodging in her cheek, Chavez said.
Juan Mercado drove his wife to St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, where she was treated, police said.
Investigators later found the other car abandoned nearby. Police later arrested Jose Omar Mejia, 25, of Santa Ana on suspicion of attempted murder.
“The ideal situation is to back off and go the other way,” he said. “Get away from these guys and don’t instigate an incident.”
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
More From the Los Angeles Times
Podcasts
John Orr was a renowned fire investigator who was also a prolific arsonist, and whose thinly veiled novel helped to convict him. In this episode we hear from the fire captain who first suspected him—and from Orr himself.
Madison McGhee is joined by legendary Dateline host Josh Mankiewicz and esteemed L.A. Times Reporter Richard Winton as the three of them dive into all-things Menendez Brothers, the good, the bad, and the still unknown.
NPR climate editor Sadie Babits talks about why the media has long overlooked the climate crisis, and how that’s starting to change.
