Young Man Found Shot to Death in Santa Ana; Gang Ties Suspected

A young man was found dead near a deserted downtown Santa Ana street early Saturday after he was shot several times in an apparent gang battle, police said.

Authorities late Saturday had not confirmed the identity of the victim, thought to be a local resident age 17 to 19, Lt. Jose Garcia said.

The shooting occurred about 12:30 a.m. Saturday in the 200 block of South Main Street. Police received calls reporting shots fired and found the young man’s body on a walkway between two businesses, Garcia said. Nobody else was in the area.

“He had been shot several times and was dead at the scene,” he said.

The Police Department’s gang detail is investigating the slaying, which is presumed to be gang-related.

Police late Saturday still had not located the weapon used in the shooting and could not name any suspects.