Man Killed in Botched Heist in Santa Ana

In a botched holdup, the driver of a produce truck shot and killed one of three men who attempted to rob him Tuesday afternoon in Santa Ana, police said.

Police identified the dead man as Robert Garcia, 26, of Santa Ana.

Shortly before 4:30 p.m., officers were called to the 3600 block of West Camile Street to investigate reports of gunfire. When they arrived, they found two men who had been shot.

“Investigators believe that three male Hispanics attempted to rob the driver of a produce truck while he was stopped at a curb,” said Santa Ana Police Sgt. Bruce Leamer. “During the robbery, there was an exchange of gunfire between the suspects and the vendor.”

Garcia apparently had run from the scene after the shooting but collapsed a block away, where police found him. He was transported to UCI Medical Center in Orange but was pronounced dead on arrival, Leamer said.

The vendor, whom police are not identifying, was shot in the arm and taken to a local hospital. His injury is not considered life-threatening, Leamer said.