Robbery Suspect Clashes With Officer, Is Slain

Police shot and killed a middle-aged man who had tried to rob a small market and then fought with police Thursday, authorities said.

The man had acted strangely and was confrontational in the La Guadalupana produce store, 906 N. Harbor Blvd., at 5 p.m., police said.

“He was disturbing customers and workers inside the store and attempted to get money out of the cash register,” said Santa Ana Police Sgt. Gary Adams. The suspect also assaulted a store employee, he said.

When the man left, employees locked the doors and called police. He remained near the front of the store but ran when a police officer arrived. He was later caught a short distance away, Adams said.

“At some point, the officer and the suspect had some sort of physical altercation and he was shot,” Adams said.

It was not immediately known if the unidentified suspect, described as a middle-aged Latino, had a weapon or had been drinking.

Jim Penaloza, 20, said he saw the officer arrive and chase the man, who “was fighting them. I heard like one shot, and then he was shot two more times.”

Before the shooting, a store worker had seen the man lie down in a parking lot. Concerned about his health, employees approached the man and asked if he needed help. He then got up, walked into the store and threatened them, Adams said.

The shooting is under investigation by police and, as is routine in officer-involved shootings, by the Orange County district attorney’s office.

Police did not identify the officer.