Man Is Shot Outside Restaurant

A man shot at least twice by the passenger in his Mercedes-Benz SL convertible while it was parked at a Costa Mesa fast-food restaurant was in critical condition late Friday, and a suspect was hospitalized with chest pains, authorities said.

The name of the victim, who was taken to Western Medical Center-Santa Ana, was not immediately released. Costa Mesa Police Lt. Dale Birney said the suspect is Ramadan Dokovic, 42, of Downey.

Police said they received a call about 3 p.m. about shots fired in the parking lot of the Jack in the Box on 17th Street. As the call was being dispatched, an officer drove past the restaurant, Birney said.

A witness pointed out the suspect, and the man was taken into custody, Birney said. Investigators said a large-caliber handgun was on the trunk lid of the Mercedes.

As Dokovic was being led to a police vehicle, he became ill and complained of chest pains, Birney said. The suspect was taken to nearby Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian but was expected to be released by 9 p.m. and booked on suspicion of attempted homicide.

Elizabeth Holmes, owner of a clothing store next to the Jack in the Box, said she was inside when she heard two pops followed by someone in the hair salon next door yelling, “Someone’s in the parking lot with a gun.”

Holmes said she saw the victim struggling to get out of the convertible and yelling. The suspect, by then outside the vehicle, forced him back, she said.

“He got him in a headlock, pulled the gun out, got up above him and had the gun angled down to his head and shot twice,” she added. Dokovic then set the gun on the trunk and stood there until police arrived, she said.