18 year-old shot, killed by police after short pursuit
(THE SANTANERO — Santa Ana, Calif.) Santa Ana Police issued a press release at approximately 4:30 PM Thursday providing additional details about a deadly officer-involved shooting that occurred Wednesday night.
According to the Santa Ana Police Department, the shooting occurred on around 10:29 PM Wednesday, when an officer attempted to stop a vehicle near Santa Ana Boulevard and French Street. In its press release, SAPD stated that the driver “failed to yield to the officer’s attempt to conduct a traffic stop, resulting in a short vehicle pursuit.”
The department’s release does not make clear whether the attempted stop was initiated for an unspecified violation or if the failure to yield was itself the sole reason for the stop. The Santanero contacted Santa Ana Police Department Public Information Officer Natalie Garcia to seek clarification on that point. As of publication, no response had been provided.
According to SAPD, the vehicle ultimately entered the parking garage at 450 E. 4th Street, known as The Spectrum Condominiums. The driver accessed the garage through the Third Street gate near the intersection of Third and French Streets, where the vehicle came to a stop.
The driver, later identified by police as 18-year-old Victor Lopez of Santa Ana, exited the vehicle and dropped a loaded Walther 9mm handgun onto the ground.
According to SAPD, Lopez initially walked toward the officer with his hands raised before turning back toward the firearm and lowering his hands. Police say the officer gave verbal commands instructing Lopez not to reach for “it,” after which an officer-involved shooting occurred.
Video posted by @OCactive_ appears to show Lopez exiting the vehicle with his hands raised and empty-handed before moving back toward the vehicle and bending down. Lopez then moves out of the camera’s view, after which three gunshots can be heard.
According to the press release, Lopez was struck in the upper torso and was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Orange County Fire Authority.
Police said the firearm recovered was loaded and stated Lopez was a suspected gang member and was found in possession of suspected fentanyl in the vehicle.
At the time of the shooting, Lopez’s 19-year-old girlfriend and their one-year-old child were inside the vehicle, according to police.
Images from Ray Diaz, resident, showing areas of the apartment garage taped off. (Ray Diaz)
According to Ray Diaz, a resident who lives at the apartment complex, children playing were present inside the parking garage and on upper levels as the incident unfolded.
Photos provided to The Santanero by Diaz show the garage taped off following the shooting for a preliminary investigation.
It remains unclear whether officers ordered residents to leave the garage before or after the shooting, and The Santanero reached out to SAPD for clarifcation.
Neighbors and residents gathered Thursday evening to pay their respects to Lopez.
The officer-involved shooting is being investigated by the Santa Ana Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division and Homicide Unit, along with investigators from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
Anyone with information related to the incident is asked to contact the Santa Ana Police Department Homicide Section at (714) 245-8390 or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.
