Manhunt in Shooting Ends in Mexico

A Santa Ana man wanted in connection with the shooting death of a friend and the wounding of the victim’s cousin as they watched videos last weekend has been arrested by Mexican police in Tijuana on suspicion of bringing a gun into the country, authorities said Monday.

Investigators had been looking for Manuel Salas, 20, since early Saturday, after he allegedly opened fire on two friends, killing Robert S. Ornales, 16, of Anaheim and wounding Ornales’ 16-year-old cousin with a semiautomatic gun while the three watched “The Sixth Sense” at a friend’s house.

Late Sunday night, officers got an anonymous tip that Salas was in custody in Mexico, Santa Ana Police Sgt. Raul Luna said.

Luna said Salas, his brother and a friend were stopped while riding in a van in downtown Tijuana about 5:30 p.m. Sunday because a local police officer thought they looked suspicious. The officer found a semiautomatic gun on Salas and took the three men into custody on suspicion of unlawful possession of a gun and transporting it into the country, crimes that in Mexico carry a prison term between five and 30 years, Luna said.

Luna said his department is working with the Mexican federal prosecutor to extradite Salas to the United States so he can be prosecuted for the killing of Ornales.

Salas had been on a drug binge for several days after splitting with his girlfriend, Luna said. “He may have been despondent over the breakup.”

According to investigators, the shootings began shortly after midnight Saturday when Salas suddenly got up from the couch and started crying, then went into another room to get his gun.

“He . . . walks up to the 16-year-old and shoots him at point-blank range,” Luna said.

When the other teenager heard the shots and came into the living room, Salas shot him once in the head and twice in the upper body, Luna said. Three girls who were in the house at the time ran.

Luna said Salas was known to have a problem with methamphetamine use and had a previous conviction for assault as a juvenile.

Investigators were hoping they would get more details when the wounded 16-year-old is able to talk. Luna said the youth, whose name was not released, was in fair condition at UCI Medical Center in Orange.