Santa Ana: Three Suspected Taggers Arrested In Connection With Deadly Shooting

Police investigate after a man was found shot to death inside his vehicle in a 7-Eleven parking lot on Dec. 18, 2022 around 1:45 AM. Photo by County News Service.

01.27.2022 | 5:00 PM | SANTA ANA – A dark-colored pickup truck on surveillance video driving near the scene of a deadly shooting led to the identification and arrest of three suspects, police announced Friday.

The arrests stem from an incident on Sunday, December 18, 2022, at 1:46 AM, where a male adult was driven to a local hospital suffering from a gunshot wound to his abdomen.

A friend who brought him to the hospital disclosed to medical staff that an additional shooting victim was in a vehicle in the area of 2100 S. Main Street. Police officers responded to that scene and located a male adult seated in a vehicle in the parking lot, suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper torso. The Orange County Fire Authority pronounced the victim deceased.

The preliminary investigation revealed that several cartridge casings were found at the scene and surveillance video from a nearby business captured a dark-colored pickup truck driving westbound on St. Gertrude Place moments before the shooting.

Detectives learned that several subjects were congregating in the 7-Eleven store parking lot when they confronted three individuals who were spray painting at a nearby business.

After the confrontation, the suspects fled and the other subjects returned to the parking lot of the 7-11. Detectives believe that a short time later, the dark-colored pickup truck drove back to the area and fired several rounds in the direction of the parking lot.

Through investigative resources, detectives identified the pick-up truck and the three suspects involved in this homicide. The suspects were identified as:

Jesus Daniel Reyes (18), residing in Santa Ana.

Adan Costantino Reyes (18), residing in Santa Ana.

A 17-year-old male residing in Santa Ana.

Later, on Friday, December 23, 2022, detectives from the Major Enforcement Team located the suspect’s vehicle unoccupied in the 2000 block of South Pacific Avenue.

Then, on Wednesday, January 25, 2023, detectives from the Gang Suppression Unit, Major Enforcement Team, Special Investigations Division, Directed Enforcement, Santa Ana School Police, and the Garden Grove Police Gang Unit executed search warrants for all three locations associated with the suspects.

All three suspects were taken into custody without incident, followed by seizures of additional evidence during the execution of the search warrants.

As a result of this investigation, and with concurrence from the Orange County District Attorney, Jesus Reyes and Adan Reyes were booked into the Santa Ana Jail for CPC 187 – Murder. Charges are pending for the juvenile suspect.

Anyone with further information regarding the deadly double shooting is urged to contact Detective Jensen at (714) 744-7456.

Anonymous tips can be submitted through the Orange County Crime Stoppers by calling (855) TIP-OCCS or by visiting their website at www.occrimestoppers.org.

Miles Madison

Miles started reporting breaking news in 2015 and has been providing high-quality news video and timely reports from the Orange County area ever since. Combining his experience as a seasoned photojournalist, radio operator and sleuth, Miles provides unrivaled multimedia news reports.