Investigation of Shootout in Irvine Continues; 2 Held

Police on Saturday were investigating the motives behind an alleged drive-by shooting on an Irvine street corner Friday night.

Two men remained in custody Saturday, arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon after one of them allegedly fired at some pedestrians and police during a pursuit. No one was injured.

About 8 p.m. Friday, officers tailed a suspicious looking Chevrolet in a Woodbridge shopping center because it was slowly cruising through the streets.

The car then approached an area where one man got out of the car and started arguing with several others standing on a street corner, Lt. Tom Hume said.

The man from the Chevrolet pulled out a handgun and fired several rounds at the pedestrians, Hume said. When police drove up and ordered the man to put the gun down, he ran away.

While police chased him on foot, the man turned around and fired at least one shot at them. Officers returned fire, and no one was hit, he added.

There was a search for the pedestrians involved in the initial altercation, but they were not found.

Both the gunman and another man in the Chevrolet were cornered and then booked at County Jail, where they are being held in lieu of $500,000 bail.

The suspects were identified as John J. Goemaat, 19, of Santa Ana and Gabriel M. Yinquez, 21, of Irvine, Hume said.

Authorities ask that anyone with information call Det. Larry Montgomery at (714) 724-7173 or Sgt. Al Murray at (714) 724-7166.