1 Teen Killed, 1 Wounded in Santa Ana Shooting

A 16-year-old boy was killed early Saturday and another teenager was left in critical condition after a friend suspected of being on a three-day drug binge opened fire during what was supposed to be a casual social gathering in a Santa Ana home, police said.

Robert S. Ornales of Anaheim suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the head and chest and died at the scene. Another 16-year-old underwent surgery at UCI Medical Center in Orange, where he remained late Saturday.

Police spent the day hunting for the suspected shooter, 20-year-old Manuel Salas, who investigators believe is armed with the semiautomatic pistol used in the slaying. Police believe there was no argument between the suspect and the two victims but said that Salas, who has a criminal record, had been using methamphetamine.

“This guy is extremely unstable, extremely dangerous and armed with at least the weapon that he used at the scene,” Santa Ana Police Sgt. Raul Luna said. “He’s made comments that he’s not going back to jail and that he wants to die.”

The shooting occurred shortly after midnight in the 1400 block of North College Street, where a group of friends had gathered to watch a movie, Luna said.

About 10 minutes into the video, police said, Salas went into the bathroom and returned with the pistol.

Salas put the gun to Ornales’ head and fired repeatedly, Luna said. When the other 16-year-old walked down the hallway to see what was going on, Salas turned the gun on him too, Luna said.

“This isn’t a situation like a drive-by shooting or a robbery,” Luna said. “This is somebody that was supposedly a friend, and all of a sudden the get-together turns into violence.”

Salas, who left the scene, had not been found by police late Saturday, despite at least one tip that he might be at his Anaheim home, Luna said.

The suspect is 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighs 200 pounds. He has brown eyes, a shaved head and upper-body tattoos, police said.

Anyone with information on the gunman’s whereabouts is asked to call the Santa Ana Police Department at (714) 245-8715.

Times staff writer Jack Leonard contributed to this report.