Fatal Gunfire Echoes in Costa Mesa

Everyone gathered throughout the day Thursday wondering aloud how the alleyway and small patch of grass in their neighborhood had suddenly become the site of Costa Mesa’s bloodiest shooting in memory.

“It’s hard to imagine, man,” said Alex Gonzalez, who has lived in the neighborhood -- a strip of more than two dozen narrow apartment buildings along West Baker Street -- for 14 of his 19 years. “That was our friend laying up there, dead. We’re never going to look at this place the same way.”

Police said Israel Maciel, 23, was fatally gunned down by a drive-by shooter shortly after sunset Wednesday as he talked with friends. The four companions were shot as well. They were taken to area hospitals and listed in serious condition, authorities said. They were expected to survive.

The neighborhood -- cater-corner to a shopping center with a Target and Starbucks -- has no known gangs and has had no recent violence, Lt. Tom Curtis said. A 26-year-veteran of the Costa Mesa Police Department, Curtis said he could not remember a shooting in the city that claimed so many victims.

Witnesses said the shooter was a stranger with a shaved head and goatee who drove through the apartments’ back alley earlier in the evening and lowered the heavily tinted windows of his sedan to menace the group.

“He yelled at us, ‘Were you trying to go to my house?’ ” recalled 19-year-old Jose Bracamontes, who said he had spent the previous hours with the victims playing soccer video games and then moved outside to talk about girls.

“I think he was on drugs. His eyes were all big,” Bracamontes said.

A half-hour later, as Bracamontes went around the corner to relieve himself, the stranger returned. He lowered the window and stuck his arm out to unleash nine shots at the group, Bracamontes said.

By the time the gunman sped away, Maciel, along with 25-year-old Carlos Gutierrez, 18-year-old Edgar Eduardo Perez, 18-year-old Ivan Barcenas and Bracamontes’ half brother, 17-year-old Raul Lopez, all toppled to the ground.

“Israel was gasping for air. I knew he was going to die,” Bracamontes said.

Police said they had not determined whether the incident was gang-related. “We’re hearing all kinds of tales. We’re not sure what tale is right yet,” Curtis said.

Neighbors, many of whom would not give their names for fear of retribution, said they cowered in their dwellings during the incident until police arrived.

“We’re moving,” said one man, closely trailing his 2- and 5-year-old children the day after the killing.