LOS ANGELES, CA – A 49-year-old man was critically injured after being shot multiple times Wednesday afternoon in Santa Ana in what police described as a road rage encounter, according to the Santa Ana Police Department.
Officers responded to reports of a shooting shortly after 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, near East First Street and South Lyon Street. The victim had multiple gunshot wounds to the lower extremities, police said.
Police said preliminary information showed the suspect got out of his vehicle and fired multiple rounds into the victim’s vehicle. They said they believed the two men did not know each other.
The victim was taken to a hospital in critical condition. By Wednesday evening, police said his condition had been upgraded to stable.
Officers respond to gunfire near First and Lyon streets
The shooting happened in Santa Ana, in Orange County, near the intersection of East First Street and South Lyon Street. Police received the first reports of gunfire shortly after 1 p.m.
Arriving officers found the man with gunshot wounds to the lower half of his body. Paramedics took him to a local hospital.
Police described the wounds as multiple and located in the lower extremities. The victim was in critical condition when he was taken for treatment.
Suspect got out of vehicle and fired, police say
According to the Santa Ana Police Department, the encounter was a road rage incident between two drivers. Preliminary information showed that the suspect stepped out of his vehicle and shot at the victim.
The suspect fired multiple rounds into the victim’s vehicle, police said. Both vehicles were reported to have been traveling westbound on First Street when the shooting happened, according to initial reports, and the victim remained in his car.
Police said the suspect left the scene in his vehicle. On Wednesday, officers were still trying to find more information about the suspect and the suspect’s vehicle.
Victim’s condition upgraded to stable
Police said the man’s condition changed from critical to stable on Wednesday evening. The update came several hours after the shooting.
The department did not release his identity.
Police believe the men did not know each other
Investigators classified the shooting as road rage. Police said they believed the encounter involved two men who did not know each other.
Police did not say what led to the confrontation between the drivers.
Intersection cordoned off while officers search for evidence
Police cordoned off the intersection Wednesday afternoon while officers searched the area for evidence. The closure followed the initial response to the shooting.
Officers also spoke with residents of nearby apartment buildings. Most of those residents said they had not witnessed the shooting.
Suspect description and custody status
Police described the shooter only as a male Hispanic adult, according to initial reports.
The available accounts conflict on whether anyone is in custody. One report said a suspect was arrested at the scene, while others said he was still at large as of about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. In its statements to reporters, the Santa Ana Police Department said it was still seeking information on the suspect.
An arrest is not a conviction, and any allegations would remain subject to the criminal court process.
Police ask for information from the public
Anyone with information about the shooting, the suspect or the suspect’s vehicle is asked to contact the Santa Ana Police Department.
Investigation into the shooting remains active
The investigation remains active. Police were still seeking information on the suspect and the vehicle he was driving, and the victim’s identity had not been released.
