Two men, teen arrested in suspected gang killing of Anaheim man in Santa Ana

Santa Ana police have arrested two young men and a 16-year-old in the killing of Omar Flores Sanchez, a 35-year-old Anaheim man who was shot on a sidewalk on the city's west side Saturday night, Oct. 17.

Hector Uriel Gonzalez, 19, and Israel Vladimir Cuevas, 18, were booked on suspicion of murder and conspiracy, with gang enhancement allegations, according to a Santa Ana Police Department release reported by New Santa Ana. The 16-year-old, who was not named, was booked on the same allegations. Police say all three are documented criminal street gang members.

What happened

Officers were called around 9:35 p.m. to reports of a shooting and a man down at 2205 W. Myrtle St. They found Flores Sanchez on the sidewalk with multiple gunshot wounds to his lower torso.

The Orange County Fire Authority took him to a hospital, where he died. Investigators said early on that they believed the shooting was gang-related and asked additional witnesses to come forward.

How police say the arrests came together

Within minutes of the shooting, patrol officers found a truck matching witness descriptions near McFadden Avenue and Raitt Street, police said. Gonzalez, Cuevas and the 16-year-old were inside, and officers found ammunition in the vehicle.

Detectives later served a search warrant at Gonzalez's home and recovered three firearms, including the gun police believe was used in the killing, plus more ammunition and gang-related evidence, according to the report.

Police announced the arrests in a release issued Wednesday, Oct. 21. The release, as reported, did not name a gang or describe a motive beyond the gang link.

What we don't know yet

Booking allegations are not charges. Whether anyone is formally charged, and with what, is up to the Orange County District Attorney's Office. Juice Unlocked has not found a public charging announcement or court date for any of the three.

Gonzalez, Cuevas and the 16-year-old have not been convicted of any crime and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

What’s next

The Orange County District Attorney's Office will decide whether to file formal charges; Juice Unlocked has not found a filing or court date. Anyone with information can call the Santa Ana Police Department Homicide Section at 714-245-8390 or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS.