Advertisement

Man faces felony charges, including attempted murder of a police officer, in Costa Mesa shooting and standoff

Share

A man was charged Friday in connection with a shooting and standoff in a Costa Mesa neighborhood on New Year’s Eve.

Steven Taylor Fernandez, 26, of San Diego was shot and wounded by police during the incident and is charged with 13 counts, including felony charges of attempted murder, attempted murder of a peace officer, discharging a firearm in a residence, grossly negligent discharge of a firearm, making criminal threats and assault with a semiautomatic firearm, court records show. He also faces a misdemeanor count of drawing, exhibiting or using a firearm capable of being concealed.

Fernandez was arrested Tuesday night after police said a man exchanged gunfire with officers and barricaded himself in the garage of a Costa Mesa residence.

Advertisement

Steven Taylor Fernandez, 26, of San Diego was arrested Tuesday night after police said a man exchanged gunfire with an officer, shot at a bystander and barricaded himself in the garage of a Costa Mesa home, authorities said.

Dec. 31, 2019

That afternoon, officers responded to a report of a possibly suicidal person with a handgun in the area of Orange Avenue and Palmer Street, according to police Lt. Ed Everett.

When an officer saw a man who matched the description of the person, the man fled while firing multiple shots at the officer, prompting the officer to return fire, police said.

The man entered a residence, where he shot at a bystander and barricaded himself in the garage, police said.

While officers tried to negotiate with the man, he displayed a weapon and police opened fire, wounding him, authorities said.

He suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds and was taken to Orange County Global Medical Center in Santa Ana, according to police. No one else was injured.

Fernandez was in the hospital Friday in stable condition, Everett said. He is in police custody with bail set at $500,000.

Fernandez is scheduled to appear in court for arraignment Jan. 10, according to the Orange County district attorney’s office.

Support our coverage by becoming a digital subscriber.

Advertisement