Mexico Aid Offered to Man Shot in O.C.

The Mexican consulate has weighed in on this week’s police shooting of an unarmed, suspected drug dealer in Santa Ana, calling the victim’s family to offer them support, a lawyer for the family said Friday.

Santiago Valencia Ayala, who was shot Tuesday morning, remained in critical-but-stable condition Friday at Western Medical Center-Santa Ana, hospital officials said.

Doctors told Ayala’s relatives that the 23-year-old was shot seven times and will likely suffer long-term intestinal problems from a stomach wound, said attorney Douglas Vining, who is representing Ayala’s family.

Police officials said officers opened fire when Ayala approached and pointed a large metal flashlight at them. Officers mistook the light for a gun, police said.

Other witnesses disputed the official version of events, saying they saw Ayala shot while empty-handed.